Entertainment
Court Orders VeryDarkMan to Pay Mr Jollof’s Wife ₦30m Over Defamation
A Federal High Court in Effurun, Delta State, has ordered social media personality VeryDarkMan to pay ₦30 million in damages to the wife of comedian Mr Jollof…
- A Federal High Court in Effurun, Delta State, has ordered social media personality VeryDarkMan to pay ₦30 million in damages to the wife of comedian Mr Jollof over defamatory statements made against her online.

A Federal High Court sitting in Effurun, Delta State, has ordered controversial social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to pay ₦30 million in damages to Mrs. Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi, the wife of comedian Mr Jollof, over defamatory statements.
The controversy reportedly began in September 2024 during an online dispute between VeryDarkMan and comedian Mr Jollof.
During the altercation, VeryDarkMan allegedly accused Mr Jollof’s wife of engaging in adultery with politicians and internet fraudsters to help her husband secure a political appointment in Delta State.
Reacting to the allegations at the time, Mr Jollof publicly defended his wife and condemned the comments made by the social media critic.
Mrs. Atsepoyi later filed a ₦500 million defamation suit against VeryDarkMan over the statements.
According to court documents reportedly signed by Hon. Justice R. Harriman on May 13, 2026, the court ruled against VeryDarkMan after he allegedly failed to provide evidence to support the allegations made against the claimant.
The court also ordered the activist to publish a public apology and retraction within 14 days through two national newspapers and across all his social media platforms.
In his ruling, 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.”
The judge further held that the claimant was entitled to both general and aggravated damages due to the wide circulation of the defamatory publication.
“I find that the Claimant is entitled to general and aggravated damages and an injunction,” the judge ruled.
The court subsequently awarded ₦20 million as general damages and an additional ₦10 million as aggravated damages against VeryDarkMan.
Justice Harriman also directed the defendant to publicly retract the defamatory statements published online between September 15 and 19, 2024.
“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,” the ruling added.
The court further restrained VeryDarkMan, his agents, or associates from making further defamatory publications against Mrs. Atsepoyi.


