The Lagos State High Court has directed social media influencer Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, to take down defamatory posts and videos he made about renowned lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, popular musician Folarin Falana, better known as Falz.
The ruling was delivered by Justice M. O. Dawodu in the case marked ID/8584/GCM/2024 on Monday, October 15, 2024. The court found that the content posted by VeryDarkMan on his social media platforms on September 24, 2024, had defamed the Falana family and caused damage to their reputation.
VeryDarkMan, a controversial online figure known for his strong opinions and criticisms, had made claims on his social media accounts, including Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), linking Bobrisky to both Femi Falana and his son, Falz. The court ruled that these statements were false and harmful, stating that they painted an inaccurate and damaging picture of the family.
According to the court’s decision, the statements made by VeryDarkMan were defamatory, meaning they wrongfully harmed the reputation of both Femi Falana and Falz.
Justice Dawodu emphasized that these types of allegations could severely damage the public image of individuals, particularly someone like Femi Falana, who has built a long-standing career in legal practice and human rights activism.
Falana is one of Nigeria’s most respected Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) and has earned national and international recognition for his work in the legal field. His son, Falz, is also widely respected in the entertainment industry, known for his music, social commentary, and advocacy for social justice.
Both father and son have built strong reputations, and the court agreed that the claims made against them were baseless and damaging.
In the ruling, the court ordered VeryDarkMan to immediately remove all defamatory posts and videos concerning Falana and his son from his social media accounts. Failure to comply with this court order could result in further legal consequences for the social media critic.
