A Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Martins Vincent Otse, aka VeryDarkMan (VDM), over alleged criminal defamation against gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. The warrant, issued by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna, directs the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to arrest VDM and bring him to court to face charges.
The allegations against VDM stem from defamatory statements he made on social media, accusing Mercy Chinwo of being involved in a contractual dispute and diverting $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee). Mercy Chinwo's legal team has presented documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to refute the allegations, describing them as false and damaging to her reputation.
VDM's lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has confirmed the development, stating that the warrant was issued due to VDM's failure to appear in court despite a summons. Adeyanju has accused the prosecution of being more interested in a media trial than actual prosecution.
Mercy Chinwo has also filed a separate lawsuit seeking ₦1.1 billion in damages against VDM. Her legal team is requesting a court order to compel VDM to delete the alleged defamatory statements, issue a retraction, and publicly apologize.
The case highlights the importance of responsible social media usage and the potential consequences of making defamatory statements online.
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