Abuja Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Social Media Activist VeryDarkMan Over Alleged Defamation and $345,000 Fraud Claim Against Gospel Singer Mercy Chinwo
Abuja’s Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6 has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of controversial social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM). The order, issued on Thursday by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana, follows a criminal defamation case filed by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
The court ruled that VDM failed to honor a summons issued on March 5, directing him to appear for proceedings. Despite a plea from his counsel, Deji Adeyanju, requesting permission to personally produce his client at the next hearing, Magistrate Iyana upheld the arrest warrant.
VDM is accused of making defamatory statements on social media, alleging Chinwo’s involvement in a $345,000 contractual dispute with her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee). Chinwo, disputing the claims, presented documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to prove her innocence.
Her legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, insists VDM’s actions violate Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime Act 2015. In addition to the criminal case, Chinwo has also filed a separate N1.1 billion lawsuit against VDM at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, demanding a retraction, deletion of the alleged defamatory posts, and a public apology.
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. The order, issued on Thursday by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana, follows a criminal defamation case filed by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.){kind=link}