Just-In: Court issues arrest warrant for social media activist VeryDarkMan

An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse Zone 6 has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of popular social media activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over a criminal defamation case filed by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.

The ruling was delivered on Thursday by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana, who ordered the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to apprehend VDM and present him before the court to face the allegations.

The court noted that the defendant failed to appear in response to a summons issued on March 5.

Despite an appeal from VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who pleaded for time to personally produce his client on the next adjourned date, the magistrate declined to vacate the arrest order.

VDM is accused of making defamatory claims on social media, alleging that Mercy Chinwo was involved in a contractual dispute over the alleged diversion of $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee). Chinwo has denied the allegations, presenting documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to support her innocence.

The complainant’s 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 (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.

In addition to the criminal case, Chinwo has also filed a N1.1 billion defamation suit against VDM at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Her legal team is seeking an order compelling him to delete, retract, and publicly apologize for all allegedly false and damaging statements made against her and her brand.