Nigerian social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has been involved in a few legal issues due to his activism and online criticisms of public figures.
The controversial social media personality has in recent times faced a series of legal threats and lawsuits due to his outspoken activism and criticisms of public figures.
Some notable instances where VDM has faced legal issues include a time when actress Tonto Dikeh reportedly threatened legal action against VeryDarkMan after he criticized her online.
And another instance where Blessing CEO, a relationship therapist, allegedly considered suing VDM over comments he made about her on social media.
But there are actually X times that VDM, who hails from Agenebode, Etsako East LGA of Edo State but grew up in Kaduna State, has actually been dragged to court over defamation by some other personalities as listed below:
1.) VDM VS PROPHET JEREMIAH
Very Dark Man was sued in the month of August, 2024, by Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, the founder of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, for daring to criticize his miracle products.
Fufeyin sued Very Dark Man for N1 billion after he publicly questioned the authenticity of his faith-based items and refused to give the products’ NAFDAC certification number.
A court order for VeryDarkMan to publish an unqualified apology in at least three national newspapers within seven days of the ruling was also requested by the cleric.
2.) VDM VS BOBRISKY
Popular crossdresser Bobrisky, also known as Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, initiated legal proceedings against fellow influencer Very Dark Man, seeking N1 billion in damages for alleged defamation, in the month of September, 2024.
The lawsuit centers on Very Dark Man’s recent publication of a voice recording, which Bobrisky claims to be artificial intelligence-generated, which misrepresents him and has caused harm to his reputation.
In a formal legal notice, Bobrisky’s legal representatives asserted that Very Dark Man has consistently leveraged Bobrisky’s name and image to create sensational content aimed at enhancing his own social media profile.
They contend that this pattern of behavior has persisted despite warnings and should be viewed as a deliberate attempt to profit from defaming Bobrisky.
The legal notice specifically addresses claims made by Very Dark Man in a viral video, where he alleges that various high-ranking officials—including deputy inspectors general of police and lawmakers—have engaged in sexual relationships with Bobrisky. Bobrisky’s team highlights that these assertions are baseless and that no evidence has been provided to substantiate such serious allegations.
3.) VDM VS FEMI FALANA & FALZ
In the month of October, 2024, a Lagos State High Court slammed a N500 million fine on Very Dark Man for defaming prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana.
The president judge, M. O. Idowu, also issued a standing order calling on VDM to take down his posts on social media after ruling that they were detrimental to the public image and reputation of Femi Falana and his son Falz.
According to Justice Idowu, the posts shared by Very Dark Man on his social media pages on September 24, 2024, relating Bobrisky to Falz and his father, were damaging to their reputation and libelous.
The post in question is an audio recording shared by VDM in which Bobrisky claimed to have paid N10 million to Femi Falana to obtain a presidential pardon, implicating Falz in the case.
4.) VDM VS OAP NEDU
Nigerian radio personality, broadcast journalist, TV presenter, actor, comedian, and content creator Chinedu Ani Emmanuel, known as Nedu Wazobia, served Very Dark Man with notice of a N500 million lawsuit over alleged defamation.
In a lawsuit filed on February 24, Nedu’s lawyers claimed that the social media critic posted a video on his social media pages “that contained a host of defamatory, false, and disparaging attacks and rhetorics against our client.”
Nedu’s lawyer insisted that Very Dark Man issue a public apology, pay N500 million in damages, and remove any recordings featuring the media celebrity within 24 hours. According to the letter, there will be more legal action taken if he does not comply.
5.) VDM VS MERCY CHINWO
In the month of March, 2025, popular gospel singer Mercy Chinwo filed a lawsuit against Very Dark Man over alleged defamation and is seeking the sum of N1 billion in damages.
Mercy Chinwo’s lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, filed the complaint one month after Very Dark Man accused her of embezzling money from performances without paying her previous record label, which was run by Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, better known as Eezee Tee.
The gospel musician’s legal team, Law Corridor, filed the fresh complaint, dated March 3, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
Very Dark Man is accused of making “libellous, malicious, spiteful, malevolent, and grossly defamatory statements that impugn the image and character” of the singer in the Writ of Summons document.
An injunction requiring Very Dark Man to remove, take back, and publicly apologize for the allegedly false and defamatory remarks made about the gospel musician is one of the demands made.
