Before the commencement of trial and court proceedings in a lawsuit filed by Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN and a popular human rights lawyer against Martins Otse aka VeryDarkMan who pride himself as Online Police, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has issued a pre-trial order, asking VeryDarkMan to remove the videos and comments he made on social media platforms in which VeryDarkMan expressed his own opinion about Femi Falana and his son, Folarin Falana aka Falz over their alleged conspiracy with a crossdresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky to undermine Nigeria legal system.

The Court asking VeryDarkMan to remove the entire video which parts contain alleged self confessional voice message of Bobrisky which the audio voice has become an issue of public interest and importance, the action of the court maybe seen as aiding and abetting parties whose names were mentioned in the audio voice message to cover up public truth or deny public right to know.

The ruling of the Court on the ground of common sense maybe a clear case of judicial oppression and intimidation of a person of public informat or a source of public information because Femi Falana in the Pre-Action lawsuit apparently is not challenging the authenticity of the audio message if it was original or fabricated but he appears to have only seek legal interpretations to the fundamental rights of freedom of expression of VeryDarkMan to express his own personal opinion as a result of the contents of the audio message.

Bobrisky who is the suspected person to be the original owner of the voice in the audio message have refused to honour Nigeria Lawmakers, the National Assembly invitation to investigate the authenticity of the audio recording, rather he chose to be represented by proxy, through his lawyer. An action that has infuriated the lawmakers.

We are not aware of any report that Bobrisky has filed court action against VeryDarkMan challenging the authenticity of the audio message.

VeryDarkMan had on September 24, 2024 released an audio recording with a voice that apparently looked like that of Bobrisky; saying in the audio that he allegedly paid money to Femi Falana to process state pardon and gained other special treatments at the Nigeria Correctional Service when he was jailed six months for Naira mutilation and abuse.

VeryDarkMan in his own opinion when he made the audio public, said he would feel disappointed if truly Femi Falana and Falz were actually involved in the allegations raised in the likely self confessional audio voice of Bobrisky.

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday issued an interim order restraining Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, to remove the videos and prohibited him from further publishing the content about the human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).

The court directed Verydarkman, his agents, and any associates to remove the defamatory videos and comments posted on September 24, 2024, across all his social media platforms.

Justice M O Dawodu granted the order on Monday, pending Otse’s compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol of the court.

The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit numbered ID/8586GCM/2024, filed by Falana against VeryDarkMan.

Justice Dawodu granted the applicant’s prayers, seeking the following reliefs:

“An Order of interim/pre-emptive remedy by this Honourable Court restraining the Defendant, his agents, privies, and/or anyone from further circulating or publishing any defamatory videos/comments about the Applicant, and to remove the defamatory videos/comments published on 24th September, 2024, from all his online social media handles/pages, pending compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol of this Honourable Court.

“An Order granting leave to the Applicant to serve the Pre-Action Bundles, Originating Processes and all other court processes between parties herein on the Defendant by substituted means through his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju Esquire of Deji Adeyanju and Partners at Terrace Block D4, White Diamond Estate, Makuru Street, Off Embu Street, Off Aminu, Wuse II, Abuja.

“Such Further Order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this ex-parte application”.

Meanwhile, the notice stated that the grounds upon which this application is brought are that the Claimant/Applicant is a Legal Practitioner, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a former National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, and a former President of the West African Bar Association

The Defendant is a social media entertainer known on X app (formerly Twitter) as @thatverydarkman and on Instagram app as @verydarkblackman. 

THe Court Ruling reads: “The Defendant published a video on September 25, 2024, on his Instagram handle @verydarkblackman where he made unsolicited comments, viz:

“In everything and everyone that is mentioned here, I will be disappointed if truly Falz and his father are involved in this whole Bobrisky Issue…Falzthebhadguy contacted Bobrisky and contacted his father, Femi Falana spoke to Bobrisky in order to divert justice…..a whole Femi Falana… will engage himself in something like this?

“Alright, based on this first voice note…. Bobrisky is saying that Femi Falana collected ₦10 million in order to wipe his name off the record. These are people I respected…. So, you can also be involved in things like these? I have lost 100% respect for these… For now, I take what Bobrisky said as the truth…”

In his ruling, Justice Dawodu-Judge said, “The Applicant has a legal right to be protected from being defamed by the actions of the Defendant. Whether this action will succeed can only be determined during the hearing of the matter. 

“There is no doubt that the Applicant has a legal right not to be defamed and has proved the possible existence of a breach of same through the depositions in his affidavit. See Akapo versus Hakeem- Habeeb [1992] 6 NWLR (Part 247) page 266.

“From the affidavit evidence and the documents in support thereof, it is clear that there are substantial issues to be tried in this matter; the balance of convenience seems to be in favor of the Applicant, and damages might not be adequate compensation, especially more so that the Defendant might not be in good financial standing to compensate the Applicant if the Court finds in his favor.

“From the foregoing, this Court finds that the Applicant has satisfied the conditions stated in Adeleke versus Lawal (supra). See also Adeyemi Works Construction (Nigeria) Limited versus Omolehin [2004] 6 NWLR (Part 870) page 650; Orji versus Zaria Industries Limited [1992] 1 NWLR.”

In addition to the order for Pre-emptive Remedy, the Applicant is also seeking leave of Court to serve the Defendant with the Pre-Action Bundles, Originating Processes and all other court processes between parties by substituted means through his lawyer Deji Adeyanju Esquire of Deji Adeyanju and Partners at Terrace Block D4, White Diamond Estate, Makuru Street, Off Embu Street, Off Aminu, Wuse II, Abuja.

It noted that the reason why the Defendant (VeryDarkMan) should be served through his lawyer is because he is not known to have any verifiable physical address except that he is very active on social media platforms.

The Judge ruled,”The Defendant, his agents, and privies are hereby restrained from further releasing, publishing, or circulating any defamatory videos/comments about the Applicant and to bring down the defamatory video/comments about the Applicant published on 24th September, 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 Applicant to serve the Pre-Action Bundles, Originating Processes, and all other court processes between 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, Off Embu Street, Off Aminu, Wuse II. Abuja

“The Applicant 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,” the judge added.

In the pre-action notice filed on September 30, 2024, Femi Falana (SAN), through his counsel, Olorunfemi Akinyemi, Esquire, wrote to VeryDarkMan, requesting that he publish an apology to the claimant on all his social media handles/pages for the defamatory statements made in the video in question. 

The notice also demands a full retraction of the statements and the removal of all offensive videos from online platforms.

According to Akinyemi, Mr Falana has been inundated with calls, messages and physical visits from countless individuals and corporate bodies all over the world who read/viewed or listened to your mendacious, reckless and offensive publication and expressed profound dismay and displeasure with the alleged misconduct in the publication and they have all threatened to disassociate from him unless he clears his name through a court of law.

The notice said, “Your action was motivated by economic gains that you would derive from the reckless, thoughtless and false publication of the offensive and libelous video and statement while pretending to run a commentary on a purported unverified audio recording of a private one-sided phone narrative allegedly by a “Bobrisky”.

“We have seen and read your solicitor’s, Deji Adeyanju and Partners, response through a letter also dated September 25, 2024 posted online wherein you confirmed the publication of the defamatory video containing the offensive words but futilely attempted to deny defaming our whom was described as “…a renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and globally recognised human rights activist.”

“You have failed to tender an unreserved apology and a full retraction of the defamatory video till date. Same continues to be viewed by your millions of online followers and is trending all over the world till this moment.

“You know or ought reasonably to know that the content of the said publication by you is false, reckless and libelous.

“We position that our client consider litigation only as a last resort and is not averse to an amicable resolution via any alternative dispute resolution method you deem suitable in the circumstance.

“We request that you publish an apology to the Claimant on all your social media handles/pages for the defamatory words contained in the video complained of and a full retraction of same, including bringing all the offensive videos down online.

“You restrain your online followers, agents or servants or otherwise from further publishing or causing to be published the said similar words/videos defamatory to the Claimant.

“Payment of the sum of ₦500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira only) as damages for the defamation of character contained in the online publication of September 24, 2024.”

Osazuwa Akonedo

Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media professional, author, and consultant. His work spans various sectors of communication and literature: Journalism and Media: He is the founder of OsazuwaAkonedo, which focuses on news analysis and commentary. He also provides consultancy services in media and banking. Literature: He is a published playwright and author of Nigerian literature. One of his notable works is the drama titled The End Shall Tell: What Exam Malpractice Can Cause, which addresses educational and social issues in Nigeria. Reporting: He frequently reports on regional news, particularly concerning Edo State and broader Nigerian current affairs. Credit: Google Gemini AI Mode Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media creator, journalist, and entrepreneur who engages audiences via news reporting, social media content, music, and a mobile application. Professional Background and Company Osazuwa Akonedo is associated with OSAZUWAAKONEDO LIMITED, a company registered in Nigeria that operates in media consultancy and news services  The company is headquartered in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and has been active in publishing news in various formats including text, audio, video, and photos  Social Media and Online Platforms Osazuwa Akonedo maintains a strong online presence on several platforms: TikTok: Shares news updates and reports, for example, covering police operations in Nigeria  YouTube: Operates a channel where he uploads videos on current affairs and news content  Twitter/X: Active under the handle @akonedo_osazuwa, posting updates on events and news  Facebook: Profiles listing his connection to news and media activities can be found on Facebook  Mobile App: Offers a dedicated mobile application for news access through Google Play (Osazuwa Akonedo News App) providing text, video, and photo news formats  News Reporting and Content He produces news content covering national and local stories, including criminal activities, government updates, and investigative reports   His reporting spans multiple formats, making it accessible to a wide audience through online platforms, mobile apps, and social media  Other Contributions In addition to journalism, Osazuwa Akonedo has also ventured into audio releases, such as “Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami Begs Nigerians For Justice” released on January 25, 2026   He also hosts podcasts documenting significant events, e.g, NDLEA arrests related to historical criminal cases  Summary Osazuwa Akonedo is a multifaceted media professional engaged in journalism, social media content creation, music, and technology via his news app. He utilizes platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, and mobile applications to disseminate news and reach audiences both locally and internationally Credit: Azure AI

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