The Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6 has issued a summons for blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over allegations of “criminal defamation” against gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
According to the court summons dated March 5, 2025, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna ordered VDM to appear before the court on March 13, 2025, to address the charges brought against him by Chinwo.
The charges stem from allegedly defamatory social media statements by VDM, accusing Chinwo of involvement in a contractual dispute and the diversion of $345,000 related to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.
Chinwo has provided documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to refute these claims, asserting they are false and damaging to her public image. Her legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Law Corridor, filed the complaint, citing violations of Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
In addition to the criminal summons, Chinwo’s counsel has sought N1.1 billion in damages in a civil defamation suit filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The suit also seeks an order compelling VDM to retract the statements and issue a public apology.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Lagos recently upheld an arrest warrant against Eezee Tee for alleged fraudulent conversion, adjourning the case until March 6, 2025, for arraignment.
In the defamation suit, Chinwo’s counsel argued that VDM’s posts were unprovoked and intended to harm her reputation in society.
Chinwo furnished the court with all documents and evidences to establish that all that VeryDarkMan has been saying are false.
He told the court that the VDM’s videos and posts are false and have caused significant harm to Chinwo’s public image, reputation, professional standing and emotional well-being.
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”.