A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has summoned social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over allegations of criminal defamation against gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
The summons, dated March 5, 2025, requires VDM to appear in court on March 13, 2025, to respond to the claims made by Chinwo. Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the order after allegations surfaced that VDM made damaging statements about the singer on social media.
The controversy began after VDM accused Chinwo of misappropriating $345,000 allegedly connected to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee. However, Chinwo denied the accusations and provided emails, receipts, and other documents to support her claims.
Her legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Law Corridor, has filed a criminal complaint, arguing that VDM’s actions violate Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015. In addition to the criminal charges, Chinwo has also taken legal action by filing a N1.1 billion defamation lawsuit against VDM at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.
The lawsuit seeks to compel VDM to remove all alleged defamatory posts, issue a public apology, and retract his statements. Chinwo’s lawyers note that the posts, made on multiple dates in February, were intended to harm the singer’s reputation and mislead the public. They claim that the accusations have caused significant damage to her professional and personal life.
Meanwhile, a related case involving Eezee Tee remains ongoing at the Federal High Court in Lagos. On February 17, 2025, the court upheld an arrest warrant against him over alleged fraudulent conversion, with his arraignment set for March 6, 2025.
