The Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over alleged criminal defamation of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the warrant on Thursday after VDM failed to appear in court despite being summoned on March 5, 2025. The court directed the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to arrest the blogger and bring him before the magistrate to answer the allegations.
VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, appealed for reconsideration of the bench warrant, assuring the court that he would personally present his client at the next sitting. However, Magistrate Iyanna rejected the appeal, insisting that the security agencies carry out the arrest.
When contacted by journalists, Adeyanju confirmed the bench warrant and accused Chinwo’s legal team of prioritizing media sensationalism over prosecution.
“Yes, a bench warrant has been issued against him for failure to show up in court. They are just interested in media trial over the matter. They are not interested in prosecuting the matter,” he said.
The warrant stems from alleged defamatory social media posts by VeryDarkMan, accusing Chinwo of involvement in a contractual dispute and the misappropriation of $345,000 related to her former record label boss Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu also known as Eezee Tee.
Chinwo, through her legal representatives led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Law Corridor, presented documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to refute the claims and assert that the blogger’s statements were false, damaging, and injurious to her reputation.
The singer’s legal team argued that VDM’s actions contravened Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
In a related development, Chinwo’s counsel has also filed a suit before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking N1.1 billion in damages against the blogger. The suit demands that VDM delete and retract all allegedly false and defamatory statements and issue a public apology.
