An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court has issued an arrest warrant for Nigerian social media critic Vincent Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), following a defamation lawsuit filed by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
Chinwo had previously sued VDM for ₦1.1 billion in damages and a public retraction after he made allegations regarding her legal dispute with her former manager, EeZee Tee. The arrest order was granted by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna on March 13, 2025, after VDM failed to appear in court on March 5 despite being officially summoned.
His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, requested leniency, assuring the court of his future attendance, but the judge denied the plea. VDM had accused Mercy Chinwo of influencing the legal proceedings and suggested replacing the presiding judge due to alleged bias. His comments also linked an EFCC official in the case to Chinwo’s husband.
The arrest warrant has triggered widespread debate, with supporters defending his right to free speech while critics argue that he engaged in defamation. The case continues to unfold as the public awaits VDM’s next legal move.