The Lagos State High Court has issued an order for the controversial social media activist, Martin Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan, to remove defamatory comments and videos related to lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin.
This ruling comes as part of a legal response to the allegations made by Otse, which were deemed harmful to the reputations of both Falana and his son.
The orders were granted in an exparte motion brought before Justice M. O. Idowu in on Tuesday
According to him, the publications made by VeryDarkMan on his social media accounts on September 24, 2024, linking Bobrisky to Falz and his father were defamatory and injurious to their public image.
Dawodu stated, “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.
“Furthermore, the defamatory statements are still trending on the defendant (VeryDarkMan)’s several online platforms and the injury to their reputation continues as long as the publication remains online.”
The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit numbered ID/8586GCM/2024, filed by Falana against VeryDarkMan.
Read the full orders granted below:
“AN ORDER of interim/pre-emptive remedy by this Honourable Court restraining the Defendant, his agents, privies, and/or anyone from further circulating or publishing any defamatory videos/comments about the Applicant, and to remove the defamatory videos/comments published on 24th September, 2024, from all his online social media handles/pages, pending compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol of this Honourable Court.
“AN ORDER granting leave to the Applicant to serve the Pre-Action Bundles, Originating Processes and all other court processes between parties herein on the Defendant by substituted means through his lawyer Deji Adeyanju Esq. of Deji Adeyanju & Partners at Terrace Block D4, White Diamond Estate, Makuru Street, Off Embu Street, Off Aminu, Wuse II, Abuja.
“SUCH FURTHER ORDER(S) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this ex-parte application.”
