A Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has officially issued a bench warrant for the arrest of popular activist, Martins Vincent Otse, also known as Verydarkman, over allegations of defamation against renowned gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.
The court order mandates the Nigeria Police Force, along with other law enforcement agencies, to apprehend Otse and present him before the court to address the charges leveled against him.
This development follows Otse’s failure to appear in court despite receiving an official summons dated March 5, 2025. The legal proceedings escalated after the activist disregarded the directive to make a court appearance, leading to the issuance of the bench warrant.
Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna, who presides over the case, issued the warrant for his immediate arrest on Thursday, March 13, 2025, emphasizing the necessity for Otse to face the allegations in court.
In an attempt to prevent the immediate enforcement of the arrest warrant, VeryDarkMan’s legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, made an appeal before the court. Adeyanju assured the magistrate that he would personally ensure his client’s attendance at the next hearing.
However, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna declined the request, firmly stating that VeryDarkMan must be brought to court through the appropriate legal channels, specifically by law enforcement agencies, rather than appearing voluntarily through his lawyer’s assurances.
The court’s decision to issue the warrant was based on defamatory statements allegedly made by VeryDarkMan on social media. According to the allegations, he publicly accused gospel singer Mercy Chinwo of engaging in fraudulent financial activities involving her former record label boss, Eezee Tee.
Reports indicate that VeryDarkMan claimed Chinwo had wrongfully diverted a sum of $345,000, which was linked to contractual disputes between her and Eezee Tee. These accusations, according to Chinwo’s legal representatives, were entirely false and had severely damaged the singer’s reputation.
Mercy Chinwo’s legal team, headed by Pelumi Olajengbesi, presented substantial documentary evidence, including verified emails, payment records, and contractual documents, to refute the activist’s claims and establish that his statements were defamatory in nature.
According to the prosecution, VeryDarkMan’s comments violate multiple legal provisions, specifically Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime Act 2015, both of which address defamation and the spread of false information via digital platforms.
In addition to the criminal case, Mercy Chinwo’s legal representatives have also filed a separate civil lawsuit against VeryDarkMan at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. The lawsuit is seeking a substantial sum of N1.1 billion in damages for reputational harm caused by his statements.
Furthermore, the lawsuit requests a court order compelling VeryDarkMan to delete and retract all defamatory posts and videos concerning Mercy Chinwo, as well as her music career and brand. The legal team also demands a public apology from the activist for the distress and reputational damage inflicted by his claims.
With the bench warrant now in effect, law enforcement agencies are expected to act swiftly in executing the court’s directive to bring VeryDarkMan before the Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja for legal proceedings.