By Ayomide Otitoju
The Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6 has issued a criminal summons against blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over allegations of defamation against gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
In a court document dated March 5, 2025, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna ordered VDM to appear before the court on March 13, 2025, to respond to allegations of “criminal defamation” brought forward by Chinwo.
The case stems from purported defamatory statements made by VDM on social media, where he accused Chinwo of involvement in a contractual dispute and the alleged diversion of $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.
Chinwo, through her legal team led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Law Corridor, provided documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to refute the claims. She alleged that VDM’s statements were entirely false and damaging to her public image and professional reputation.
The criminal complaint, filed under Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, accuses VDM of deliberate misinformation aimed at tarnishing Chinwo’s reputation.
This legal action follows a separate defamation suit filed by Chinwo at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking ₦1.1 billion in damages against VDM. The suit also demands the deletion and retraction of all defamatory statements, alongside a public apology.
The summons comes amid ongoing legal proceedings against Eezee Tee, who is facing fraud allegations. A Federal High Court in Lagos recently upheld an arrest warrant against him, with his arraignment scheduled for March 6, 2025.
Chinwo’s legal team asserts that VDM’s posts—made on multiple dates in February 2025—were intended to mislead the public and harm her reputation. They argue that his allegations have caused significant damage to her career and emotional well-being.
