The Lagos High Court has adjourned a defamation lawsuit filed by Femi Falana, SAN, and his son, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, against social media critic Martin Vincent Otse, also called VeryDarkMan. The next hearing has been set for January 23, 2025.
VeryDarkMan arrived at the court on Thursday at 9:30 a.m., wearing red native attire and surrounded by cheering supporters. However, Falana and Falz were not present at the court session.
The case stems from allegations made by VeryDarkMan, who claims he was exposing corruption and sees no need to apologize to Falz or his father. In an Instagram video shared on Wednesday, he reiterated, “I do not owe them any apology; my focus is to shed light on corruption.”
The controversy began on September 24, when VeryDarkMan allegedly published a defamatory video targeting the Falanas. In response, Justice Matthias Dawodu, ruling on an earlier ex parte application, granted an order protecting the Falanas’ legal rights against defamation. The court directed VeryDarkMan to take down the video and prohibited him from releasing further defamatory content about the senior lawyer and his son on social media.
Related Stories
- Falz Stands Firm in Legal Battle Against VeryDarkMan, Says “Trouble Is My Work
- Court Orders VeryDarkMan to Remove Defamatory Posts About Femi Falana and Falz
- How Femi Falana’s Free Legal Aid Saved Blogger VeryDarkMan From Defamation Charges
Justice Dawodu emphasized that VeryDarkMan must refrain from publishing any more defamatory material until the case is resolved. The court also mandated that all case documents be served to the critic through his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
The Falanas are demanding N500 million each in damages, claiming the allegations have severely harmed their reputations. The dispute arose after VeryDarkMan shared an audio recording suggesting that the Falanas had contacted crossdresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, during his imprisonment to allegedly seek money in exchange for an executive pardon. Bobrisky has since denied the claims, calling the audio a fabrication.
“The defamatory publication is still circulating on the defendant’s social media platforms, causing ongoing damage to our reputations,” the Falanas argued.
VeryDarkMan has filed an application to appeal the court’s ruling. He contended that denying his request for leave to appeal would be a miscarriage of justice. “This case involves significant legal questions that need further review,” he argued. “If leave is denied, it could lead to the enforcement of a decision that may not accurately apply the law, with potential negative consequences for all involved and the broader judicial system.”