From punch
The controversial social media critic Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, has been ordered by the Lagos State High Court to take down videos and remarks that defame lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) and his son Folarin.
Justice M. O. Dawodu delivered the ruling in suit no: ID/8584/GCM/2024 on Monday.
He claims that on September 24, 2024, VeryDarkMan posted things on social media that connected Bobrisky to Falz and his father, defaming them and harming their reputation.
“According to the applicants (Falz and Falana), the defendant (VeryDarkMan) knew these statements (Bobrisky’s claims) were false and untrue but proceeded to publish them to injure their reputation,” Dawodu said in a Certified True Copy that our correspondent cited.
“In addition, the defendant (VeryDarkMan) continues to suffer reputational harm as long as the publication is still available online due to the defamatory remarks that are still trending on their various online platforms. The applicants, Falz and Falana, filed this ex-parte application for pre-emptive remedies in order to stop the defendant, VeryDarkMan, from committing any more mischievous acts that, should the court rule in their favor, damages might not be able to stop.
The defendant, his agents, and privies are further ordered to refrain from releasing, publishing, or disseminating any more defamatory videos or comments about the applicants. Additionally, they must take down the defamatory video or comments about the applicants that were posted on September 24, 2024, from all of their online social media handles and pages while they comply with this honorable court’s pre-action protocol.
“Leave is hereby granted to the applicants to serve the defendant by substituted means through his attorney, Deji Adeyanju, Esq., of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, at Terrace Block D4, White Diamond Estate, Makuru Street, Of Embu Street, Of Aminu, Wuse I, Abuja, as well as all other court processes between the parties herein.
Within 14 days of today, the applicants must file and serve the defendant with the Pre-Action Bundles, Originating Processes, and other accompanying processes. The order in 1 above shall lapse after 21 days from today.”
Remember how Falz had demanded that statements made about him and his father in an audio conversation featuring Bobrisky, Idris Okuneye, regarding financial support and legal action be taken down? That conversation was made public by VeryDarkMan.
Letter dated September 26, 2024, signed by Taiwo E. Olawanle, Esq., and published on Falana’s Instagram page, was sent by Falana’s legal team to VeryDarkMan, the person behind a social media post suggesting that Falz was part of a plot to get a presidential pardon for Bobrisky, who is facing legal issues related to allegations of Naira abuse.
The documents state that Bobrisky had asked Falz for financial assistance and legal counsel. He also requested N3 million to be paid to correctional center officials so that he could receive VIP treatment while he was being held.
VeryDarkMan responded by stating that he did not think Falana was involved in the alleged bribery during his appearance before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions.
He said, “Apparently, now, some people are taking advantage of what is going to target Femi Falana.
“Here, I apologise. It’s so sad that his name was included in that audio. I couldn’t believe it as well; that is the part that irritated me more when I said I refuse to believe that he is a party to something like that.”
Published by Ejoh Caleb
