Court orders VeryDarkMan to pay N200k fine amid Falana suit

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has ordered social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to pay ₦200,000 in fines after dismissing his preliminary objections to a ₦1 billion defamation suit filed against him by renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, rapper and actor Folarin Falana, also known as Falz.

Justice Fimisola Azeez ruled that VDM’s objections lacked merit and imposed a cost of ₦100,000 each in favor of both claimants. The court also directed VDM to immediately file his defence in the ongoing suit.

The case stems from a video posted by VDM on his Instagram page (@verydarkblackman) on September 24, 2024, which the Falanas claim contained defamatory and damaging content. They are each demanding ₦500 million in damages, totaling ₦1 billion.

While VDM was not present in court, he was represented by his lawyer, Marvin Omorogbe. Femi Falana was represented by Ernest Olawanle and Femi Akinyemi, while Falz appeared in person.

In their legal filings, the Falanas accuse VDM of making libellous, scandalous, and false statements. They are asking the court to declare the video defamatory, issue a perpetual injunction stopping VDM and his associates from repeating such statements, and compel him to publish public apologies across his social media platforms and in a national newspaper.

VDM had earlier filed a preliminary objection, arguing that the Lagos High Court lacked jurisdiction since the alleged offences occurred outside Lagos. However, the Falanas countered with an affidavit and written address urging the court to reject the claim.

Justice Azeez sided with the claimants, dismissed VDM’s objection, and ordered the influencer to respond to the main defamation claims. The matter was adjourned to July 8 for further proceedings.

This development follows an earlier decision by Justice Mathias Dawodu, who struck out a related pre-emptive action filed by the Falanas, ruling that it had become academic since the substantive case was already being heard by Justice Azeez.

In that ruling, Justice Dawodu stated, “The matter can no longer stand because it has no legs, and therefore, sustaining the matter amounts to a waste of precious judicial time.”

The defamation case now proceeds with VDM expected to file a formal response to the allegations.