Court has found social media activist and self-styled “Ratel President” Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan or VDM, guilty of defamation against the wife of comedian Mr Jollof, ordering him to pay N30.5 million in damages and issue a public retraction within 14 days — a verdict that has drawn gleeful mockery from rivals and set social media ablaze.
The Verdict
The case stemmed from allegations VDM had made publicly against Mr Jollof’s wife, claiming she was unfaithful to her husband. He went further to allege the woman was seen at a named hotel with another man, repeatedly dragging her online. The wife subsequently sued for defamation of character, and the case had been working its way through the courts for several months.
According to details shared online, the court found VDM guilty of defamation and ordered him to pay N30.5 million in damages, broken down as follows: N20 million for aggravated damages, N10 million for general damages, and N500,000 for litigation costs.
Beyond the financial penalty, the court also ordered VDM to publish a retraction and formal apology in two national newspapers within 14 days.
No Proof, Just Hearsay
Perhaps the most damaging detail to emerge from the proceedings was the basis — or lack thereof — for VDM’s original allegations. When asked in court to provide evidence to back up his claims against Mr Jollof’s wife, VDM reportedly had none, conceding that his statements had been based on information passed to him by someone else rather than any independent verification.
Deeone Piles On
Comedian Aderombi Adedayo Martin, known as Deeone and a known rival of VDM, wasted little time in seizing on the verdict. In a video posted to his Instagram page, the comedian broke down the ruling in detail, gleefully noting that VDM had been found guilty and ordered to pay the multi-million naira sum.
Deeone described VDM as a “manipulator” who had finally been exposed, and used the ruling as a warning to others. “Stop making claims you cannot prove about people,” he said, adding that the verdict showed VDM was “learning the hard way.”
The comedian also took a pointed swipe at VDM’s charitable activities, suggesting his NGO funds — which Deeone implied were idle — could now be put to use settling the court-ordered damages. “His NGO money would be very useful to pay the charges,” Deeone said, adding that VDM had not been putting the funds to meaningful use anyway.
Social Media Erupts
The verdict triggered a flood of reactions online, with many users split between those mocking VDM and a smaller camp defending him.
One user, @lagosteaforum, quipped: “Na NGO money go suffer am,” while @king_edu1 appeared to suggest VDM’s finances remained more than adequate, writing: “NGO money go solve the problem, still remain 478m naira.” Others were less sympathetic. @jokky.jokky_ wrote: “Everywhere, good my people. He dey learn new thing,” while @stmartinslove echoed: “So las las VDM self don learn new things.”
Not all were amused. @kolexzy2026 pushed back, writing: “Everyone is against a poor man, and they can’t win him” — a comment that reflected the persistent loyalty of VDM’s fanbase, who frequently frame his battles as those of an ordinary man taking on powerful enemies.
A Costly Pattern
The ruling against VDM arrives at a turbulent moment for the activist, who is simultaneously embroiled in a public falling-out with Afrobeats star Seun Kuti and facing sustained criticism from several quarters of the Nigerian entertainment and media world. The N30.5 million judgment — if upheld on any potential appeal — would represent one of the most significant legal setbacks of his high-profile career as a social media watchdog.
VDM has not publicly responded to the verdict.
