Gospel Singer Mercy Chinwo Slams Activist VeryDarkMan With N1.1bn Defamation Suit
Gospel singer Mercy Chinwo has filed a defamation lawsuit against social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), demanding N1.1 billion in damages for defamatory social media posts made against her over a contractual dispute with her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu (EezeeTee).
The case stems from an alleged diversion of $345,000 in royalties that Chinwo claimed was misappropriated by EezeeTee. In the lawsuit, Chinwo accuses VDM of publishing false and defamatory content regarding the dispute, which has harmed her public image and reputation.
According to the legal filing by her lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the social media activist made several posts on his Instagram account, claiming that Chinwo had been “going behind the record label” to book shows and had failed to remit money to the label. These claims, Chinwo insists, are entirely false.
The lawyer outlined that VDM’s videos, which were posted on February 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, and 17, 2025, painted a distorted and degrading portrayal of Chinwo. Olajengbesi argued that the posts were made without provocation and with the intention to damage Chinwo’s standing, both personally and professionally.
Chinwo’s legal team has provided substantial evidence, including documentation, to show that VDM’s posts were fabricated. The defamatory videos, which garnered a large viewership on Instagram, were seen as an attack on Chinwo’s character and professional reputation.
In addition to seeking the removal of the defamatory posts, the lawsuit demands a public retraction and apology from VDM across his social media platforms and in two widely circulated national newspapers. The suit also seeks a significant financial penalty, including:
- N1 billion in general damages for defamation
- N100 million in punitive and aggravated damages
- N25 million to cover legal costs
The court is being asked to mandate VDM to pay 10% interest per annum on the judgment sum until full payment is made.
This legal action follows a related case in February 2025, when a Federal High Court in Lagos upheld an arrest warrant for EezeeTee regarding the alleged fraudulent conversion of royalties. The court case against EezeeTee is scheduled for March 6, 2025 for his arraignment.
Chinwo’s legal team maintains that VDM’s actions were not only defamatory but also intentionally malicious, and they are seeking the full legal consequences for his conduct.
