An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6 has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), following allegations of criminal defamation brought by renowned gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
The court’s decision, delivered on March 13, 2025, by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna, came after VDM failed to appear in court despite a summons issued on March 5, 2025. Chinwo’s legal team presented evidence alleging that VDM made defamatory statements on social media, accusing her of diverting $345,000 in a contractual dispute with her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.
VDM’s counsel, Deji Adeyanju, appealed to the court for leniency, offering to personally present his client at the next hearing. However, Magistrate Iyanna declined this request, insisting that law enforcement agencies execute the arrest warrant to ensure VDM’s appearance in court.
In addition to the criminal defamation case, Chinwo’s legal team has filed a civil lawsuit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, seeking ₦1.1 billion in damages. They are also requesting that VDM retract and delete all allegedly defamatory statements and issue a public apology.
This development underscores the increasing legal scrutiny faced by social media influencers and activists regarding the content they share online.
