A Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has ordered the arrest of blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over accusations of defaming gospel artist Mercy Chinwo. The court instructed law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, to apprehend Otse and ensure his appearance in court to address the charges against him.
The bench warrant was issued by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna on Thursday, March 13, 2025, after Otse failed to appear in court despite being summoned on March 5, 2025. Otse’s legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, appealed to the court to withdraw the warrant, pledging to ensure his client’s presence. However, Magistrate Iyanna declined the request, insisting that law enforcement must bring Otse to court.
The allegations against Otse stem from social media posts in which he accused Chinwo of being involved in a contractual disagreement and the alleged diversion of $345,000 connected to her former record label executive, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee. Chinwo submitted evidence, including emails and transaction records, to disprove the claims, arguing that the accusations were baseless and had harmed her public image.
Chinwo’s legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of the Abuja-based firm Law Corridor, contended that Otse’s actions breached Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015. In addition to the criminal case, Chinwo has filed a civil suit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, seeking N1.1 billion in damages from Otse.
The civil suit also demands that Otse retract the defamatory statements, issue a public apology, and remove all related posts from social media platforms. This case underscores the legal ramifications of online defamation and the need to protect individuals’ reputations in the digital era.
