An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6 has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of popular social media activist Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM). The court order, issued on Thursday, follows a criminal defamation case filed against him by renowned gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
Presiding over the case, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana directed the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to apprehend VDM and bring him before the court to face the charges. The decision was made after the activist failed to appear in court as summoned on March 5.
Despite an appeal from VDM’s legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, to allow him to personally present his client at the next hearing, the magistrate refused to withdraw the arrest order.
The case against VDM stems from allegations that he made defamatory statements about Chinwo on social media, accusing her of misappropriating $345,000 in a contractual dispute involving her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee).
Chinwo, claiming the accusations were false and damaging to her reputation, presented the court with documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to refute the claims. Her legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, argued that VDM’s actions violated Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.
Additionally, Chinwo has filed a N1.1 billion lawsuit against VDM at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, seeking a court order for the activist to delete and retract the defamatory statements, issue a public apology, and compensate her for damages.
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