Ikeja High Court on Tuesday struck out a defamation suit filed against controversial Instagram figure Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkBlackMan, VDM, by prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, rapper and activist Folarin Falana, widely known as Falz.
The legal action stemmed from a video VDM shared on his social media platforms in which he commented on an alleged audio recording by cross-dresser Bobrisky. In the recording, Bobrisky purportedly accused the Falanas of perversion of justice—an accusation the father and son found defamatory. As a result, they sought ₦500 million each in damages, totaling ₦1 billion.
When the case was called before Justice Matthias Dawodu on Tuesday, none of the parties involved—VDM, Femi Falana, or Falz—were present in court.
Representing the defendant, Mr. Niyi Alagbe, who held brief for lead counsel Mr. Marvin Omorogbe, informed the court that an application for a stay of proceedings had already been filed before Justice Fimisola Azeez, who is presiding over the substantive matter.
Responding on behalf of the Falanas, Mr. Omotayo Olatunbosun acknowledged receiving the application the previous evening at around 4:15 p.m.
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However, he argued that the application was a delay tactic and that the day’s scheduled hearing—centered on a preliminary objection—was ready to proceed.
Justice Dawodu, clearly frustrated by the confusion, noted that the stay application was not included in the court’s file. He questioned why the case had come before him at all when the substantive suit was already being handled by another judge. He concluded that hearing the matter any further would amount to an academic exercise.
“Why am I being troubled with this suit when the substantive matter is before another judge?” Justice Dawodu asked.
“Consequently, this suit is hereby struck out,” he ruled.
The ruling effectively halts proceedings in Dawodu’s court, although the matter may continue under Justice Azeez depending on how the stay application is handled.
The case drew widespread attention not only due to the high-profile nature of the claimants and the defendant but also because it sits at the intersection of celebrity culture, social media commentary, and legal accountability. VDM, known for his controversial and often confrontational online persona, has made a name for himself by openly criticizing public figures, often in blunt and unapologetic terms.
As of the time of filing this report, none of the parties involved had issued a public statement following the court’s decision.
NAN
