A court in Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of blogger VeryDarkMan over alleged defamation against gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. The case involves accusations of false claims about a financial dispute. Chinwo is also suing for ₦1.1 billion in damages. Social media reactions are mixed.
A Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for blogger Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over alleged defamation against gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. The court directed law enforcement to apprehend VDM after he failed to appear for proceedings despite being summoned.
Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna rejected VDM’s lawyer Deji Adeyanju’s plea to withdraw the warrant, insisting security agencies bring him to court. Adeyanju claims the case is more about a "media trial" than serious prosecution.
The case involves accusations that VDM falsely claimed Chinwo was entangled in a financial dispute, allegedly diverting $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee). Chinwo’s legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, refuted these claims, presenting emails and payment receipts as evidence.
Chinwo's lawyers argue that VDM violated Nigeria's Penal Code and Cybercrime Act, warranting legal action. Separately, the gospel singer has filed a ₦1.1 billion defamation suit against VDM at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. She seeks damages, a public apology, and a court order mandating the deletion of the defamatory content.
Social media reactions have been mixed, with some questioning the legal pursuit while others support Chinwo's decision to take action. VDM’s whereabouts remain unknown, with speculation that he may be outside the country. The case continues to spark widespread debate online.
