A bench warrant for the arrest of Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), a blogger, for “criminal defamation” of the character of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo has been issued by a Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja.

The Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement organizations were directed by the magistrate to detain VeryDarkMan and bring him before the court to respond to the criminal charges against him.

On Thursday, March 13, 2025, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the bench warrant after VeryDarkMan did not show up for the magistrate’s appearance after being summoned by the court on March 5, 2025.

Deji Adeyanju, the attorney for VeryDarkMan, had urged the magistrate to reconsider the bench warrant and that he would personally bring his client to court.

VDM’s claimed 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.

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 attorneys, represented 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.

As you may remember, Chinwo’s attorney also brought VDM before the Federal Capital Territory’s High Court in Abuja, requesting N1.1 billion in damages from the blogger.

The attorney requested an injunction for VDM to remove, take back, and publicly apologize for all of the allegedly untrue and disparaging remarks made against Chinwo and her brand.