VeryDarkMan had, during his online altercation with Mr Jollof in 2024, accused the latter’s wife of committing adultery with politicians and “Yahoo boys”.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Popular social media personality and influencer Martins Vincent Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan, has been ordered by a judge of a Federal High Court in Effurun, Delta State, to pay the sum of N30 million in damages to the wife of comedian Mr Jollof, Mrs Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi.
The verdict was communicated via a court document signed on 13 May 2026 by the Honourable Justice R. Harriman.
The dispute began in September 2024 when VeryDarkMan, during an online altercation with Mr Jollof, accused Jollof’s wife of committing adultery with politicians and “Yahoo boys” (internet fraudsters).
According to his claims, she allegedly did so in an effort to help her husband secure a political appointment in Delta State.
Reacting to the allegations, Mrs Atsepoyi approached the court and filed a N500 million defamation lawsuit against VeryDarkMan.
Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Harriman ordered the 32-year-old influencer—who was unable to provide evidence to back his claims—to pay N30 million for defamation.
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The judge also gave VeryDarkMan a 14-day ultimatum to publish an apology to Mrs Atsepoyi in two national daily newspapers and across all his social media handles, including a formal retraction of the defamatory statements.
In the written judgment, Justice Harriman stated:
“I therefore have no hesitation in holding that the words complained of are defamatory in their natural and ordinary meaning and are actionable per se.
“I find that the Claimant is entitled to general and aggravated damages and an injunction. See DIAMOND BANK v. OKPALA (2016) LPELR-41573(CA) and OBOK & ORS v. AGBOR & ORS (2016) LPELR-41219(CA). Given the wide dissemination of the defamatory material, a retraction and apology are appropriate to restore the Claimant’s reputation.
“Judgment is hereby entered in favour of the Claimant against the Defendant as follows: It is declared that the words published by the Defendant concerning the Claimant are defamatory.
“N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) as general damages; N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) as aggravated damages. The Defendant is hereby directed to publish an apology to the Claimant in two national dailies and all his social media handles containing a retraction of the defamatory words contained in the Defendant’s online publication of 15th, 16th, and in the early hours of 19th September 2024, within 14 days of this judgment.
“The Defendant, by himself, his agents, and/or privies, is hereby restrained from further making any defamatory publication against the Claimant.”
