Popular gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo, has filed a N1.1 billion lawsuit against social media commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan over alleged defamation.
The lawsuit, dated March 3, follows allegations made by VeryDarkMan in February, in which he accused Chinwo of diverting funds from shows without paying her former record label, owned by Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as EeZee T.
He further claimed that the singer breached her contract with the label before her exit.
Chinwo’s lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, described VeryDarkMan’s remarks as “libellous, malicious, and damaging” to her reputation.
He argued that VeryDarkMan was not directly involved in the dispute between Chinwo and EeZee T but had misrepresented the matter in a way that harmed her public image.
According to Olajengbesi, VeryDarkMan shared multiple videos with his vast audience, allegedly portraying Chinwo in a “caricaturist and disdainful” manner while supporting EeZee T’s side of the dispute. He contended that these videos were intended to ridicule the singer.
In the lawsuit, Olajengbesi stated, “The Claimant avers that she has neither had any form of relationship with the Defendant nor was the Defendant involved in the issue between the Claimant and Mr. EeZee T in any material particular.
“The Claimant avers that the statements which the Defendant made in the videos he published on his Instagram page were as though the Defendant was personally involved in the issues between the Claimant and Mr. EeZee T; however, these statements were not only false but damning and injurious to the Claimant’s public image and reputation.”
Chinwo is seeking a court order compelling VeryDarkMan to delete the alleged defamatory posts from all his social media platforms. Her lawyer also demanded that VeryDarkMan issue a public retraction and an unreserved apology in two widely circulated national newspapers and across his social media platforms.
Also, Olajengbesi is asking the court to award N1 billion as general damages for defamation, N100 million as punitive and aggravated damages, N25 million as the cost of the suit, and 10% interest on the judgment sum per annum until full payment.
He also requested that VeryDarkMan publish the apology in four national dailies for 14 consecutive days.