A Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of controversial blogger Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), in connection to a criminal defamation case filed by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana, directed the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to arrest and produce VDM in court.
This decision came after the activist failed to honor a court summons dated March 5. Despite appeals from VDM’s counsel, Deji Adeyanju, who requested time to personally present his client at the next hearing, the magistrate refused to vacate the arrest warrant.
Chinwo accused VDM of defamatory social media claims, alleging that she diverted $345,000 in a contractual dispute with her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee).
Her legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, submitted documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to counter the allegations and safeguard her reputation.
The prosecution argues that VDM’s statements violate Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Meanwhile, in a related case, Chinwo’s legal team has also filed a N1.1 billion lawsuit against VDM at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, demanding a public apology, retraction, and deletion of the alleged defamatory statements.
