A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has rejected a preliminary objection filed by social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), in a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit brought against him by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin Falana (Falz).
The Falanas accused VeryDarkMan of defamation in an Instagram video published on September 24, 2024. Justice Fimisola Azeez dismissed VDM’s objection and ordered him to pay ₦200,000 in costs (₦100,000 each to Femi Falana and Folarin Falana).
The judge also instructed VDM to file his defense in both lawsuits immediately.
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During Tuesday’s proceedings, Femi Falana was represented by counsel, while Folarin Falana was present. VeryDarkMan was absent but represented by his lawyer, Marvin Omorogbe.
The Falanas’ separate suits allege character assassination and seek a court order compelling VDM to apologize and cease further defamatory publications.
Their pleadings requested the court to prevent VDM from tarnishing their image with similar statements and to declare his September 24, 2024, Instagram post as “libellous, injurious, derogatory, scandalous, and defamatory.”
They are seeking ₦500 million each, totaling ₦1 billion, for the alleged defamation.
Additionally, they asked for a perpetual injunction against VDM and his representatives from publishing similar content, and a court order for him to publish an apology on his social media platforms and in a national daily newspaper.
VeryDarkMan had filed a preliminary objection, arguing the Lagos High Court lacked jurisdiction because the alleged offenses occurred outside its territorial reach. The Falanas countered this objection with a counter-affidavit.
Following the ruling, Justice Azeez adjourned the case to July 8, 2025, for mention and to allow VDM to file his defense.
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In a related development, Justice Mathias Dawodu had on April 15, 2025, struck out a preemptive action previously filed by the Falanas, ruling it redundant as the substantive case was already before another judge.
This preemptive application had been granted on October 14, 2024, leading to the Falanas filing the substantive suit now before Justice Azeez.
However, VDM had filed another preliminary objection, claiming a “multiplicity of actions” based on the expired preemptive application.
He also sought a stay of proceedings, which the court dismissed because a substantive suit was already underway before a different judge.
During the April 15, 2025, proceedings, Justice Dawodu declared the preemptive matter “spent” and “academic,” stating, “The matter can no longer stand because it has no legs and, therefore, sustaining it would amount to a waste of precious judicial time.”
He then struck out the preliminary objection.
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