Court Fines VDM N30.5m As Damages For Defamation

A DELTA State High Court sitting in the Effurun has slammed N30.5million damages on social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), for defamation in a suit filed by Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjueyi Atsepoyi, wife of Freedom Okpetoritse Atsepoyi, also known as Mr. Jollof.
It was gathered that the judgement, which delivered on Friday, May 8, awarded N20million as general damages, N10million as aggravated damages and N500,000.00 for cost of litigation against VDM.
The court also reportedly ordered him to publish retraction and apology in two national dailies within 14 days of the judgment.
The Plaintiff had, in the suit demanded N500million from VDM for defamation, as well as prayed thecCourt to order him to publish an apology in two national dallies and all his social media handles.
The Plaintiff alleged in suit no: EHC/203/2024, that VDM published a defamatory content against her and same was streamed, watched and digested by members of the public, including her customers, some of whom are resident in Effurun, within the jurisdiction of the court.
The Plaintiff, through her Counsel, John Smart, averred in her Writ of Summons: “Sometime on the 15th, 16th and in the early hours of 19th September, 2024, the Defendant used his social media verified Instagram handle of “verydarkblackman” to continually make and publish defamatory publications in form of an online video about and against the Claimant.
“In the said publications, the Defendant stated that the Claimant committed adultery against her husband with a ‘yahoo boy.’
“He also stated that the Claimant slept with ‘several politicians’ to give her husband appointment as an SSA with the Delta State Government and that one of her children is not for her husband, suggesting that the husband conducts a DNA paternity test.
“He said vide the same medium that he has witnesses to these claims and he was ready for any action that his publication may occasion.”
VDM had reportedly told the court that he didn’t know the Delta State-based former banker and event planner during a virtual hearing of the court on Tuesday, July 1, last year.
On the accusation of infidelity with a Yahoo Boy in a hotel room and allegation that Atsepoyi slept with politicians to secure appointments for Mr. Jollof, VDM purportedly responded, “I can’t remember.”
He was also quoted to have denied past video claims about Atsepoyi’s alleged infidelity.
VDM reportedly confirmed receiving the notice of the court case, but claimed: “I didn’t check the contents, because my address was posted online, and I felt threatened.”