A Lagos High Court has dismissed the preliminary objection filed by social media figure Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), in a defamation case brought against him by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and musician Folarin Falana (Falz).
Justice Fimisola Azeez ruled on Tuesday that the objection lacked merit and ordered VDM to pay ₦200,000, ₦100,000 each to the claimants. The judge further directed him to file his defence ahead of the next hearing on July 8.
The Falanas are seeking ₦1 billion in damages over a video posted on Instagram by VDM in September 2024, which they say contained defamatory content. They are also asking for a public apology and a restraining order against future defamatory publications.
“The whole application has no legs,” Justice Azeez said, siding with the claimants’ counter-argument that the court has jurisdiction.
The ruling clears the way for the defamation suit to proceed, as the court prepares to hear the substantive claims.
