ALLEGED DEFAMATION: Court Schedules Hearing for Falana and Falz’s N1bn Lawsuit Against VDM on February 19

The defamation lawsuit brought by human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, and his son Folarin Falana, professionally known as Falz, against social media influencer Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, VDM, has been postponed until February 19 by the Lagos High Court in Ikeja.

After hearing a preliminary objection from VDM’s attorney, Marvin Omorogbe, contesting the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case and the legality of the Falanas’ complaint, presiding judge Justice Matthias Dawodu adjourned the case.

The Falanas had brought VDM before the court and sought N500 million apiece in damages for a video he had shared on social media, claiming that they had obtained N10 million from Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, in order to sabotage the legal process.

Justice Dawodu had on the last adjourned date, October 14, 2024, ordered VDM to take down the video and also issued a restraining order against further defamatory publications.

In addition, the Falanas want VDM to issue a public apology that will be published in a major newspaper and on all his available social media accounts.

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The legal team for VDM contended that the defendant lives and works principally in Abuja, where the claimed defamatory content was disseminated, and that the court lacks jurisdiction over the matter.

Additionally, VDM’s lawyers argue that the Falanas tried to “forum shop” for a favorable verdict by bringing the case in Lagos.

The Falanas claim that VDM’s actions, which were motivated by malice and unsubstantiated claims, seriously damaged their reputation and that it still does as long as the video is available online.

In the unverified audio recording of the alleged Bobrisky’s biased story, the applicant claimed that the defendant carelessly claimed that Femi Falana had taken N10 million from Bobrisky, even though the alleged Bobrisky never claimed that the claimant/application in this case had taken N10 million from him.

The Falanas are requesting the following reliefs: “a declaration that the defendant’s September 24, 2024, post on his Instagram handle, @verydarkblackman, explicitly targeting the Claimant, is libellous, slanderous, derogatory, scandalous, and defamatory.”