A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to pay a fine of N200,000 after dismissing his preliminary objections to the N1 billion defamation suit instituted against him by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, music artiste Folarin Falana, also known as Falz.
Justice Fimisola Azeez held that the applications lacked merit and consequently awarded a total cost of N200,000 against VDM, N100,000 each in favour of Femi and Folarin Falana.
The judge also directed the defendant to immediately file his defence in both suits.
The Falanas are seeking redress over a video published by VDM on his Instagram page (@verydarkblackman) on Sept. 24, 2024.
According to the claimants, the video was defamatory and injurious to their reputation, and they are each claiming N500 million in damages, bringing the total claim to B1 billion.
At the hearing, Femi Falana was represented by his lawyers, Ernest Olawanle and Femi Akinyemi, while his son, Folarin, was present in court.
VDM was absent but was represented by his counsel, Marvin Omorogbe.
In their suits, the claimants alleged that VDM made libellous, scandalous, and defamatory remarks targeting them in his video.
They are asking the court to declare the publication defamatory and to issue a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his agents, or any associates from making or distributing similar statements in the future.
VDM, in response, had filed a preliminary objection seeking to dismiss the suits for lack of jurisdiction.
He argued that the Lagos High Court did not have the authority to entertain the matter, claiming the alleged offences were committed outside its jurisdiction.
However, the claimants filed a counter-affidavit along with a written address, urging the court to reject the objection.
Justice Azeez ruled in their favour, dismissed VDM’s application, and ordered him to respond to the substantive defamation claims.
The judge then adjourned the case to July 8 for mention and to allow the defendant to file his statement of defence.
This development follows an earlier ruling by Justice Mathias Dawodu of another Lagos State High Court, who on April 15, 2025, struck out a related pre-emptive action filed by the claimants.
Justice Dawodu held that the matter had become academic due to the pendency of the substantive defamation suit before Justice Azeez.
The legal battle continues as the case moves forward under Justice Azeez, with the defendant now mandated to respond formally to the allegations of defamation.
