A Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, known online as VeryDarkMan (VDM), following allegations of defamation against renowned gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
The warrant was issued by Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna on March 13, 2025, after VDM failed to appear in court despite being summoned on March 5, 2025.
The allegations stem from VDM's social media posts accusing Chinwo of diverting $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee. Chinwo has denied these claims, providing documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to establish her innocence.
Chinwo's legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, argues that VDM's actions violate Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and Section 391 of the Penal Code.
In addition to the criminal proceedings, Chinwo has filed a civil lawsuit seeking ₦1.1 billion in damages for defamation.
VDM's legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the issuance of the bench warrant and criticized the court's decision to proceed with the arrest warrant, stating that the prosecution is more interested in a media trial than a serious legal process.