Abuja, Nigeria — The Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of controversial social media personality Very Dark Man (VDM) over the alleged defamation of Nigerian gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the bench warrant on Thursday, March 13, 2025, following VeryDarkMan’s failure to appear before the magistrate after being summoned on March 5, 2025.
The news was confirmed to Channels Television on March 13 by VDM’s lawyer Deji Adeyanju,
“Yes, a bench warrant has been issued against him for failure to show up in court. They are just interested in a media trial; they are not serious about prosecution,” he explained.
Adeyanju also explained that he had previously appealed to the court to allow him to appear in VDM’s stead, however, the appeal was denied stressing that the social media personality was to appear by himself.
VDM’s warrant of arrest follows his allaged defamatory remarks on social media, accusing Chinwo of being involved in a contractual dispute and the alleged diversion of $345,000 connected to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, commonly known as Eezee Tee, were the basis for the bench warrant.
Mercy Chinwo provided the court with documentation to back up her assertions, such as emails and payment receipts, demonstrating that VDM’s accusations were not only wholly untrue but also defamatory and detrimental to her character and public image.
According to the complainant’s solicitors, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of the Abuja-based Law Corridor, Chinwo, the defendant’s claimed activities violate Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act 2015 and Section 391 of the Penal Code.
Margret Oshinowo | March 13, 2025
