A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of controversial social media critic Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, over alleged defamation of Nigerian gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the bench warrant on Thursday, March 13, 2025, following VDM’s failure to appear before the court after being summoned on March 5, 2025.
VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, while appearing on Channels Television, confirmed that “Yes, a bench warrant has been issued against him for failure to show up in court. They are just interested in a media trial; they are not serious about prosecution,” he said.
Adeyanju also explained that he had previously appealed to the court to allow him to appear in VDM’s stead.
However, the appeal was denied, stressing that the social media personality was to appear by himself.
VDM’s warrant of arrest follows his alleged defamatory remarks on social media, accusing Chinwo of being involved in a contractual dispute and the alleged diversion of $345,000 connected to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, commonly known as Eezee Tee, were the basis for the bench warrant.
Chinwo provided the court with documentation to back up her claims, such as emails and payment receipts, demonstrating that VDM’s accusations were not only wholly untrue but also defamatory and detrimental to her character and public image.
According to the complainant’s solicitors, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of the Abuja-based Law Corridor, Chinwo, the defendant’s claimed activities violate Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act 2015 and Section 391 of the Penal Code.
