Gospel music sensation, Mercy Chinwo, has initiated legal proceedings against social media commentator Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, citing defamation of character. The lawsuit, filed in response to VeryDarkMan’s public accusations, seeks substantial financial compensation for the perceived damage to Chinwo’s reputation.
The core of the dispute stems from VeryDarkMan’s allegations in February, where he accused Chinwo of financial impropriety. Specifically, he claimed she diverted funds from her performances without compensating her former record label, owned by Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (EeZee Tee). Furthermore, VeryDarkMan asserted that Mercy breached her contractual obligations with the label before her departure.
Chinwo’s legal representative, Pelumi Olajengbesi, formally lodged the lawsuit on March 3rd. The legal document meticulously details how VeryDarkMan’s comments were “libellous, malicious, and damaging,” significantly tarnishingMercy’s public image. Olajengbesi emphasized that VeryDarkMan had no direct involvement in the contractual disagreements between Mercyand EeZee Tee.
The lawsuit highlights VeryDarkMan’s extensive social media presence, where he allegedly posted numerous videos portraying Chinwo in a “caricaturist and disdainful” manner. These videos, according to the lawsuit, were designed to ridicule Chinwo while simultaneously endorsing EeZee Tee’s perspective in the ongoing dispute.
Olajengbesi articulated that Chinwo had no prior relationship with VeryDarkMan, nor was he privy to the intricacies of her contractual issues with EeZee Tee. The lawyer asserted that VeryDarkMan’s statements were not only false but also profoundly injurious to Mercy’s public image and reputation.
The legal demands include a court order requiring VeryDarkMan to remove all defamatory content from his social media platforms. Additionally, Mercy’s legal team seeks a public retraction of the defamatory statements and an unreserved apology published in two widely circulated national newspapers, as well as across VeryDarkMan’s social media channels.
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In terms of financial compensation, the lawsuit demands N1 billion in general damages for defamation, N100 million in punitive and aggravated damages, N25 million to cover the cost of the lawsuit, and a 10% annual interest on the total judgment sum until full payment is made.
Furthermore, the legal team insists on the publication of the apology in four national dailies for a minimum of 14 consecutive days. This comprehensive approach aims to rectify the perceived damage to Chinwo’s reputation and deter future defamatory actions.
This legal action follows Chinwo’s earlier public accusations against EeZee Tee in January, where she alleged exploitation, threats to her life, and the dissemination of false rumors regarding her child’s paternity. In a video shared on Instagram, Chinwo detailed how she was forced to relocate from Lagos to Port Harcourt due to safety concerns.
