Gospel Singer Mercy Chinwo Files Defamation Lawsuit Against VeryDarkMan, Seeks Retraction And Apology

Gospel sensation Mercy Chinwo has initiated legal action against popular social media influencer and blogger Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over alleged defamatory statements. The lawsuit was filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Allegations and Defamation Claims

The lawsuit arises from accusations made by VDM on social media, where he alleged that Chinwo was involved in a contractual dispute and had diverted $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also called EeZee Tee. These claims, according to Chinwo, are entirely false and damaging to her reputation.

Legal documents submitted by Chinwo’s counsel, Pelumi Olajengbesi, demand that VDM immediately delete all defamatory content, issue a retraction, and publicly apologize for the false claims. The singer also provided substantial documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to prove that the allegations were baseless.

Court Proceedings and Legal Demands

On February 17, 2025, a Federal High Court in Lagos upheld the existing arrest warrant for EeZee Tee regarding alleged fraudulent conversion, with the arraignment scheduled for March 6, 2025. However, the new lawsuit against VDM focuses solely on the defamation of Mercy Chinwo.

According to Olajengbesi, VDM made a series of Instagram posts on February 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, and 17, 2025, in which he claimed that Chinwo had been booking shows independently and failing to remit payments to the record label. These statements, the lawsuit contends, were made maliciously to tarnish the singer’s reputation and mislead the public.

Chinwo’s Response and Legal Reliefs Sought

Chinwo asserts that she has no personal or professional relationship with VDM and that his portrayal of her in his videos was both defamatory and injurious to her career. The lawsuit seeks several legal remedies, including:

A court order directing VDM to remove all defamatory content from his social media platforms.
A public retraction and an apology published in at least four national newspapers and across all his social media handles for 14 consecutive days.
Compensation of N1 billion for general damages caused by defamation.
An additional N100 million as punitive damages for the harm caused by the false claims.
Legal costs amounting to N25 million.
A 10% annual interest on the total judgment sum until full payment is made.

Impact of Defamation on Public Figures

Defamation cases involving celebrities are becoming more common in the digital age, where misinformation can spread rapidly. This case highlights the potential consequences of making unverified claims online.

For more legal insights into defamation and its implications in Nigeria, visit this reliable legal resource.

Conclusion

As the case unfolds, the entertainment industry and the public eagerly await the court’s ruling. Mercy Chinwo’s legal action against VeryDarkMan underscores the importance of accountability in online content creation.