Court orders warrant for the arrest of controversial blogger, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, over a criminal defamation case filed by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo

Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of controversial blogger, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over a criminal defamation case filed by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.

Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana directed the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to arrest VDM and produce him before the court.
 
The order was issued after the activist failed to honour a court summons dated March 5.

Despite pleas from VDM’s counsel, Deji Adeyanju, who requested an opportunity to personally present his client at the next hearing, Magistrate Iyana declined to vacate the arrest warrant.
 
Chinwo alleges that VDM made defamatory claims on social media, accusing her of diverting $345,000 in a contractual dispute with her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, known as Eezee Tee.
 
The singer, through her legal team led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, presented documentary evidence—including emails and payment receipts— to refute the claims and protect her reputation.
 
The prosecution insists that VDM’s actions violate Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
 
Meanwhile, in a related legal battle, Chinwo’s counsel has also filed a N1.1 billion lawsuit against VDM at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, seeking a public apology, retraction, and deletion of the alleged defamatory statements.