Court issues arrest warrant for VeryDarkMan over defamation case

An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6 has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).

The order was given after Otse failed to appear in court for a criminal defamation case filed against him by renowned gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.

Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the arrest warrant on Wednesday, instructing law enforcement agencies to apprehend VeryDarkMan immediately.

The summons for his court appearance was initially issued on March 5, 2025, but he failed to comply.

The legal dispute stems from allegations of defamation made by Chinwo, who earlier this month filed a lawsuit against Otse, demanding ₦1.1 billion in damages.

While Otse later issued a public apology, many critics claimed his statement lacked sincerity.

This is not the first time the controversial social media figure has faced legal trouble. He has previously been arrested over allegations of cyberbullying and defamation.

His whereabouts remain unknown, and authorities are actively seeking to enforce the court order. The case has sparked widespread debate on social media, with supporters and critics weighing in on the ongoing legal battle.

More updates will follow as the situation develops.