The court has postponed the Falanas’ lawsuit against VDM until January 2025.

A Lagos High Court has adjourned the hearing of a defamation suit involving social media influencer Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), until January 23, 2025. This case was initiated by human rights activist Femi Falana and his son, Folarin Falana, famously known as Falz.

During the court proceedings, VDM appeared in traditional red attire, accompanied by supporters, while the Falanas were notably absent. The hearing was postponed due to the absence of critical applications in the court file, necessitating the adjournment.

Earlier, on October 14, Judge Matthias Dawodu addressed an ex parte application from the Falanas, asserting their legal rights to protection against slander. The court mandated that VDM remove a particular video deemed defamatory, which he had posted on September 24, 2023. Furthermore, the judge ordered him to refrain from disseminating any additional defamatory material concerning the Falanas until the case is resolved. All relevant legal documents are to be served to VDM through his attorney, Deji Adeyanju.

The Falanas have sought N500 million each in damages, citing VDM’s allegations that they received N10 million from Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, to influence judicial proceedings. They contend that VDM knowingly published unfounded claims that have adversely affected their reputations, with the alleged defamatory content still circulating on his social media accounts.

In response to the court’s ruling, VDM has sought permission to appeal. He argues that a denial of this request would constitute a miscarriage of justice, emphasizing the importance of appellate court review in safeguarding the legal process and ensuring judicious outcomes.

As this case progresses, it underscores the ongoing complexities at the intersection of social media, defamation, and legal accountability in today’s digital landscape.