Martins Otse, known widely as “VeryDarkMan” (VDM), has become the subject of an arrest warrant issued by an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court. The warrant, delivered Thursday from the court in Wuse Zone 6, stems from a criminal defamation case brought forward by prominent gospel artist, Mercy Chinwo, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing legal dispute.
Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana’s ruling mandates the Nigeria Police Force and all relevant law enforcement agencies to apprehend VDM and present him before the court. This directive follows VDM’s conspicuous absence from court proceedings, despite a summons issued on March 5th. The court deemed his non-appearance a disregard for judicial protocol, prompting the issuance of the warrant.
VDM’s counsel, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, made a fervent plea to overturn the arrest order. Adeyanju offered to personally guarantee VDM’s presence at the next hearing, but Magistrate Iyana remained steadfast, denying the request.
Central to the case are accusations that VDM disseminated defamatory content about Chinwo through his social media platforms. Chinwo’s legal team, led by Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, contends that VDM’s actions violate Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.
Adding another layer to the legal battle, Chinwo’s counsel has also filed a separate civil suit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking N1.1 billion in damages. Beyond financial compensation, the lawsuit demands that VDM delete, retract, and publicly apologize for the alleged false and defamatory statements.
