A Lagos High Court has postponed the judgment on a defamation suit filed by prominent human rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, and his son, the popular musician Falz, against social media influencer Vincent Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM). The court has set a new hearing date for January 23, 2025.
VDM appeared in court on Thursday in a red traditional outfit, accompanied by vocal supporters. However, the Falanas were not present, and the proceedings could not continue as several applications filed by the parties were missing from the court’s records. As a result, the judge adjourned the case to the new date.
Previously, on October 14, Justice Matthias Dawodu had granted the Falanas an interim ruling, affirming their legal right to protection against slander. The judge ordered VDM to remove a defamatory video he posted on September 24, 2025, which targeted both Femi and Folarin Falana. Additionally, VDM was prohibited from posting or distributing further defamatory content about them.
The lawsuit stems from a video VDM posted in which he falsely claimed that the Falanas received N10 million from socialite Bobrisky to obstruct justice. The Falanas are seeking N500 million in damages from the influencer, accusing him of knowingly spreading false and harmful statements that have damaged their reputations.
VDM has expressed his intention to appeal the court’s earlier decision, arguing that a refusal would lead to a miscarriage of justice, as the case raises significant legal issues that warrant further review. He emphasized the importance of the appellate court in clarifying legal matters to maintain justice and integrity within the judicial system.
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