Deji Adeyanju, the lawyer representing social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan, has dismissed gospel singer Mercy Chinwo’s defamation lawsuit as a “complete joke.”
A Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of VeryDarkMan on March 13, 2025. This was due to his failure to appear in court after being summoned on March 5, 2025. He is accused of making defamatory statements against Mercy Chinwo.
Mercy Chinwo has also taken the case to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. She is suing VeryDarkMan for N1.1 billion over claims he made on social media. According to reports, he accused Chinwo of being involved in a contract dispute and misusing $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (Eezee Tee).
Speaking in an interview with AIT, Adeyanju dismissed the case, questioning why his client should pay such a huge amount.
“Pay N1.1 billion for what? Over what? This is not a court of law, and I don’t want to discuss strategies. The case is nothing serious… It’s a joke. It’s a complete joke,” he said.
VeryDarkMan, who is currently outside Nigeria, has challenged security agencies to arrest him when he returns. He stated that he is used to being arrested and is not worried about the legal threats.
The case has sparked debates online, with some supporting Mercy Chinwo and others backing VeryDarkMan. The legal battle is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how it will unfold.
