Social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, aka Very Dark Man, has responded to the bench warrant arrest issued against him over alleged defamation of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
Recall that an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse Zone 6 issued the bench warrant on Thursday in response to a criminal defamation action that Mercy Chinwo had placed before the court.
In his verdict, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana directed the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement organizations to detain the defendant and bring him before the court to respond to the criminal charges the gospel singer had made against him.
The court also observed that Very Dark man did not show up for the hearing after being summoned on March 5 to answer for the allegations leveled against him.
READ ALSO: Court orders arrest of Very Dark Man over alleged defamation of Mercy Chinwo
Magistrate Iyana also refused to overturn the arrest order, even after counsel to the defendant, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, who was present in court, made a strong plea.
While reacting to the court order in a video shared on his Instagram page, Very Dark Man described the court order issued against him as a conscious effort to stifle his advocacy while also insisting that his arrest would not weaken his resolve.
Regardless of any legal action against him, he insisted that he would not be silenced and accused Mercy Chinwo of using her power to influence law enforcement.