An Abuja Magistrate Court has issued an arrest warrant on social media personality Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, VDM.

This comes following allegations of criminal defamation made against him by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.

The case stems from claims VDM posted on social media, accusing Chinwo of being involved in a $345,000 financial dispute with her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.

Chinwo has denied the allegations, presenting documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to disprove the claims and assert that they have damaged her reputation.

Magistrate Emmanuel Iyana instructed the Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agencies to arrest VDM after he failed to appear in court for a scheduled hearing on March 5, despite being summoned by the court following Chinwo’s legal action.

READ ALSO: VeryDarkMan faces N500 million defamation lawsuit from Nedu

VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, requested that his client be allowed to voluntarily appear at the next hearing, but the magistrate upheld the arrest warrant.

In addition to the criminal defamation charge, Chinwo has filed a separate ₦1.1 billion lawsuit at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

She is demanding a public apology, a retraction of the defamatory statements, and the removal of the posts in question.

Chinwo’s legal team, led by Pelumi Olajengbesi, argues that VDM’s actions breach Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24(1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015.

Crediblenewsng.com