Controversial social media commentator, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been
summoned for “criminal defamation” of the reputation of gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo by the Chief Magistrate Court,
Wuse Zone 6.
VDM’s attorney, Deji Adeyanju, responded to the criminal summons by stating that his client’s remarks could not be
considered unlawful.
Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna directed the defendant, VDM, to appear in person before the court on March 13,
2025, to respond to the accusations made against them by the complainant, Chinwo, in the court summons dated
March 5, 2025.
The criminal summons stemmed from alleged defamatory statements made by VDM on social media, accusing
Chinwo of involvement in a contractual dispute and the purported diversion of $345,000 linked to her former record
label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.
Chinwo provided the court with documentation to back up her assertions, such as emails and payment receipts,
demonstrating that VDM’s accusations were not only wholly untrue but also defamatory and detrimental to the
claimant’s character and public image.
Mercy Chinwo stated in the criminal complaint submitted by the complainant’s attorneys, who were led by Pelumi
Olajengbesi of the Abuja-based law firm Law Corridor, that the defendant’s alleged actions violate Section 24 (1)(B) of
the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and Section 391 of the Penal Code.
Recall that Chinwo’s counsel also dragged VDM before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking
N1.1bn damages against the blogger.
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The lawyer sought an order compelling VDM to delete, retract, and issue a public apology for all allegedly false and
defamatory statements made against Chinwo and her brand.
On February 17, 2025, a Federal High Court in Lagos held that the arrest warrant against EeZee Tee over alleged
fraudulent conversion subsists and adjourned the case until March 6, 2025, for the arraignment of the record label boss.
Olajengbesi said in the defamation lawsuit that VDM posted the content without warning and with the obvious goal of
devaluing Chinwo in the perspective of morally upright people.
Chinwo provided the court with all the records and proof necessary to prove that VeryDarkMan’s claims were untrue.
He informed the court that Chinwo’s reputation, public image, professional standing, and emotional health had all
suffered greatly as a result of the VDM’s fabricated tapes and posts.
The lawyer said VDM made the posts on his Instagram handle on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 12th, and 17th of February
2025, accusing Chinwo of “going behind the record label to go and collect shows; she was collecting gigs, and she
was not remitting money to the record label.”
