The Lagos State High Court has issued a directive ordering controversial social media figure, Martin Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, to remove defamatory statements and videos about rights advocate, Femi Falana, and his son, Folarin Falana, known as Falz.
In the ruling delivered by Justice M. O. Dawodu in suit no: ID/8584/GCM/2024 on Monday, the court found that the publications shared by VeryDarkMan on his social media platforms on September 24, 2024, were not only defamatory but also injurious to the public images of both Falana and Falz.
The posts had linked them to popular crossdresser and internet personality, Bobrisky.
The court ruling revealed that the applicants (Falana and Falz) claimed the defendant, VeryDarkMan, was fully aware that the statements linking them to Bobrisky were false and that despite this, he went ahead to post the content, which was intended to damage their reputations.
According to Justice Dawodu, the defamatory posts had continued to circulate on the defendant’s various online platforms, and that as long as they remained there, the injury to the applicants’ reputations is ongoing.
Dawodu said the court recognized the urgency of this matter, as the damage caused by the defendant’s actions might be irreparable if further harm is not prevented.
The judge granted an order restraining VeryDarkMan, his agents, and associates from making any further defamatory statements about Falana and Falz.
Additionally, the court directed him to immediately remove all defamatory posts and videos about the applicants that were shared on his social media pages on September 24, 2024.
The court said these measures were to remain in place pending the full compliance with the court’s Pre-Action Protocol.
The court also granted permission for the applicants to serve the Pre-Action Bundles, Originating Processes, and all other court documents on the defendant through substituted means.
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The court said these documents are to be delivered via his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, at their office located at Terrace Block D4, White Diamond Estate, Makuru Street, Wuse I, Abuja.
Dawodu emphasized that the applicants must ensure that the required legal documents were filed and served on the defendant within a 14-day period and that failure to comply with this order would result in the lapsing of the court’s directive after 21 days from the date of the ruling.
