The Lagos State High Court has issued an interim order restraining popular social media entertainer, Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, from further publishing defamatory content about renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).
The order, issued by Justice M.O. Dawodu on Monday, mandates VeryDarkMan, his agents, and associates to remove the defamatory videos and comments posted on September 24, 2024, across all his social media platforms. This ruling was made pending Otse’s compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol of the court.
The interim injunction follows a lawsuit filed by Falana, numbered ID/8586GCM/2024, seeking to protect his reputation from what he claims are false allegations made by VeryDarkMan in an online video. In the video, the social media entertainer alleged that Femi Falana and his son, musician Folarin Falana (known as Falz), were involved in an alleged bribery scheme concerning cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky.
Key Rulings in the Court Order
The court granted Falana’s prayers, including:
– An interim order preventing VeryDarkMan, his agents, and anyone associated with him from further publishing or circulating defamatory content against Falana.
– A directive to remove the defamatory content from social media platforms.
– Permission for Falana’s legal team to serve court documents on VeryDarkMan through his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju Esq., due to the lack of a verifiable physical address for the defendant.
Justice Dawodu noted that while the final outcome of the case will be determined after the full hearing, the applicant, Femi Falana, has the right to protect his legal and personal reputation against defamatory actions.
The lawsuit stems from a video posted by VeryDarkMan on September 24, 2024, where he made several unsolicited and unverified comments, implicating Falana and his son in an alleged scheme to divert justice. The video referenced claims that Bobrisky had bribed Femi Falana with ₦10 million to secure a pardon.
Falana has vehemently denied these allegations, describing them as false, reckless, and damaging to his globally recognized standing as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights activist.
In response to these allegations, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into Bobrisky’s supposed bribery claims, but no official findings have been made public yet.
Meanwhile, Femi Falana’s legal team issued a pre-action notice to VeryDarkMan, demanding an apology and full retraction of the defamatory content. The notice further warned of a ₦500 million damages claim if the matter is not amicably resolved. Despite these demands, no retraction or apology has been made by VeryDarkMan as of this report.
The court’s interim order will remain in effect for 21 days, during which VeryDarkMan is expected to comply or face further legal consequences. The case marks yet another significant clash between traditional legal structures and the increasing influence of social media platforms in shaping public opinion.
This case will continue to unfold as both parties prepare for a full hearing in the Lagos State High Court.