An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse Zone 6 has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of controversial social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
The warrant, issued on Thursday by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana, follows a criminal defamation case filed by renowned gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
The court ordered the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies to arrest VDM and present him in court to face the allegations against him.
The arrest order was issued after VDM failed to appear in court despite being summoned on March 5. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, pleaded for more time, offering to personally produce his client on the next adjourned date, but the magistrate refused to vacate the warrant.
VDM is accused of making defamatory statements about Chinwo on social media, alleging she was involved in a contractual dispute and misappropriation of $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee).
Chinwo has denied the allegations, presenting documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to support her case.
Her legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, argued that VDM’s actions violated Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.
In addition to the criminal case, Chinwo has also filed a ₦1.1 billion lawsuit against VDM at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, demanding a retraction, deletion of the alleged defamatory statements, and a public apology.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment