A Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has ordered the arrest of popular social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
The arrest warrant was issued on Thursday after gospel singer Mercy Chinwo filed a criminal defamation case against him.
Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana directed the Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agencies to arrest VDM and bring him to court to face the allegations. The court noted that VDM failed to appear for a hearing on March 5, despite being summoned.
VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, pleaded with the court to allow him to personally present his client at the next hearing, but the magistrate refused to cancel the arrest order.
The case revolves around allegations that VDM made defamatory statements about Mercy Chinwo on social media. He reportedly accused her of mismanaging $345,000 in a contractual dispute with her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.
Chinwo, calling the claims false and damaging to her reputation, provided the court with documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to prove her innocence.
Her legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, argued that VDM’s actions violated Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.
Additionally, Chinwo’s lawyers have filed a separate N1.1 billion lawsuit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. They are demanding that VDM delete his alleged defamatory statements, issue a public apology, and retract his claims.
