Court orders VeryDarkMan to delete defamatory social media posts about Falana, Falz
The Lagos State High Court has ordered controversial social media critic, VeryDarkMan (VDM) whose real name is Martin Otse, to remove defamatory comments and videos concerning lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) and his artiste son, Folarin, aka Falz.
The ruling was delivered by Justice M. O. Dawodu in suit no: ID/8584/GCM/2024 on Monday, October 14, 2024.
The judge held that the publications on VeryDarkMan’s social media accounts on September 24, 2024, linking controversial transgender crossdresser, Idris Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky, to Falz and his father were defamatory and injurious to their public image.
In a Certified True Copy obtained on Tuesday, the Judge said, “According to the applicants (Falz and Falana), the defendant (VeryDarkMan) knew these statements (Bobrisky’s claims) were false and untrue but proceeded to publish them to injure their reputation.
“Furthermore, the defamatory statements are still trending on the defendant (VeryDarkMan)’s several online platforms and the injury to their reputation continues as long as the publication remains online. The actions of the defendant (VeryDarkMan) have necessitated the applicants (Falz and Falana) to file this ex-parte application for pre-emptive remedies to prevent further acts of mischief that damages may not remedy, should the court find in favour of the applicants.
Dawodu further ruled, “The defendant, his agents, and privies are hereby restrained from further releasing, publishing, or circulating any defamatory videos or comments about the applicants and must remove the defamatory video or comments about the applicants published on September 24, 2024, on all his online social media handles/pages pending compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol of this honourable court.
“Leave is hereby granted to the applicants to serve the Pre-Action Bundles, Originating Processes, and all other court processes between the parties herein on the defendant by substituted means through his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, Esq., of Deji Adeyanju & Partners at Terrace Block D4, White Diamond Estate, Makuru Street, Of Embu Street, Of Aminu, Wuse I, Abuja.
“The applicants must file and serve the Pre-Action Bundles, Originating Processes, and other accompanying processes on the defendant within 14 days from today. The order in 1 above shall lapse after 21 days from today.”
Falz asks VeryDarkMan to retract alleged defamatory posts
Recall that Falz had asked VeryDarkMan to retract the defamatory statements made against him and his father in a recorded conversation involving Bobrisky, regarding financial assistance and legal intervention released by the social media critic.
In a letter dated September 26, 2024, signed by Taiwo E. Olawanle, Esq., and posted on the rapper’s Instagram page, Falana’s legal team addressed VeryDarkMan, the author of a social media post that linked Falz to a scheme to secure a presidential pardon for Bobrisky, who has been embroiled in legal troubles over naira abuse charges.
The document stated that the crossdresser had allegedly requested legal advice and financial help from Falz, asking for N3 million to pay correctional centre officials to secure VIP treatment during his imprisonment.
VeryDarkMan, while appearing before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions, later said he didn’t believe Falana was involved in the alleged bribery.
“Apparently, now, some people are taking advantage of what is going to target Femi Falana.
“Here, I apologise. It’s so sad that his name was included in that audio. I couldn’t believe it as well; that is the part that irritated me more when I said I refuse to believe that he is a party to something like that,” he stated.
