The Lagos High Court has postponed the hearing of a defamation suit against social media influencer Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to January 23, 2025. The suit was filed by human rights lawyer Femi Falana and his son, musician and activist Folarin Falana, known as Falz.
VDM, who arrived in court dressed in a red native attire and surrounded by cheering supporters, faced an empty courtroom as the Falanas were not present. The case was adjourned because several key applications submitted by both parties had not yet been added to the court’s file.
On October 14, Justice Matthias Dawodu had ruled in favor of the Falanas’ request for an interim order, noting they have a legal right to protect their reputation from slander. He ordered VDM to remove an alleged defamatory video from September 24, 2025, which claimed that the Falanas accepted a bribe of N10 million from Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, to influence justice. The court further restrained VDM from publishing any further defamatory content about the Falanas on his social media accounts until the suit is resolved.
In response, VDM filed for permission to appeal, arguing that denying him this opportunity could result in a miscarriage of justice. He emphasized that the case raises significant legal questions that warrant further review, adding, “A refusal to grant leave may lead to the enforcement of a decision that may not accurately reflect the law, impacting both the parties and the integrity of the judicial process.”
The Falanas are seeking N500 million in damages each, asserting that VDM's unverified claims have caused ongoing harm to their reputations due to the continued circulation of the video on his social media platforms.
