Court Orders VeryDarkMan To Remove Defamatory Posts On Falana, Falz
A Lagos State High Court has ordered controversial social media critic Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, to remove defamatory comments and videos about lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) and his son Folarin.
Judge M.O. Dawodu ruled on Monday in the case ID/8584/GCM/2024.
According to it, the statements made by VeryDarkMan on his social media on September 24, 2024, associating Bobrisky with Falz and his father, were defamatory and hurt their public image.
According to the Applicants (Falz and Falana), the Respondent (VeryDarkMan) knew that these statements (Bobrisky’s allegations) were false and untrue, but published them to damage their reputation.
“Furthermore, the defamatory statements are still trending on the defendant (VeryDarkMan)’s several online platforms and the injury to their reputation continues as long as the publication remains online. The actions of the defendant (VeryDarkMan) have necessitated the applicants (Falz and Falana) to file this ex-parte application for pre-emptive remedies to prevent further acts of mischief that damages may not remedy, should the court find in favour of the applicants.
He further ruled, “The defendant, his agents, and privies are hereby restrained from further releasing, publishing, or circulating any defamatory videos or comments about the applicants and must remove the defamatory video or comments about the applicants published on September 24, 2024, on all his online social media handles/pages pending compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol of this honourable court.
“Leave is hereby granted to the applicants to serve the Pre-Action Bundles, Originating Processes, and all other court processes between the parties herein on the defendant by substituted means through his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, Esq., of Deji Adeyanju & Partners at Terrace Block D4, White Diamond Estate, Makuru Street, Of Embu Street, Of Aminu, Wuse I, Abuja.
“The applicants must file and serve the Pre-Action Bundles, Originating Processes, and other accompanying processes on the defendant within 14 days from today. The order in 1 above shall lapse after 21 days from today.”
Didactic Information Hut recalls that Falz had demanded a retraction of defamatory statements made against him and his father in a recorded conversation involving Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, regarding financial assistance and legal intervention released by VeryDarkMan.
