The Lagos State High Court fined activist VeryDarkMan ₦500 million for defamation against lawyer Femi Falana and his son, rapper Falz. Justice M. O. Idowu ruled that the activist's social media posts were false and damaging, ordering him to delete all defamatory content about the Falanas from his accounts.
The Lagos State High Court has imposed a ₦500 million fine on social media activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, for defaming human rights lawyer Femi Falana and his son, popular rapper Falz. Justice M. O. Idowu, who presided over the case, also ordered Otse to delete all defamatory statements and videos posted on social media regarding the Falanas. This decision comes after Otse made multiple posts on September 24, 2024, alleging a connection between the Falanas and crossdresser Bobrisky.
Justice Idowu stated that Otse's statements were not only false but had also caused significant harm to the reputations of both Femi Falana and Falz. In the ruling, the court emphasized that Otse knowingly shared misinformation with the intent to damage the Falanas' public image.
The court's judgment has sparked reactions online, with many commenting on the heavy financial penalty and the impact this may have on Otse’s supporters. Some online users have pointed out that an apology could have avoided this situation, while others speculated on how Otse might secure funds to cover the fine.
