- A Delta Federal High Court ordered VeryDarkMan to pay ₦30 million for defamation
- The case stemmed from online allegations against Mr Jollof’s wife in 2024
- The court also ordered a public apology across media platforms within 14 days
A Federal High Court sitting in Effurun, Delta State, has ordered Nigerian social media personality VeryDarkMan to pay ₦30 million in damages to Mrs Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi, the wife of comedian Mr Jollof, over defamatory statements made during an online dispute.
The judgment stemmed from a heated social media altercation in September 2024 between VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof, during which allegations were made against Mr Jollof’s wife.
VeryDarkMan had accused Mrs Atsepoyi of engaging in adultery with politicians and “Yahoo boys” in order to assist her husband in securing a political appointment in Delta State. The claims were widely circulated online and sparked public backlash.
In response, Mr Jollof described the influencer as someone “not well trained” and a product of a broken home, further escalating the online exchange.
Mrs Atsepoyi subsequently filed a ₦500 million defamation suit against VeryDarkMan, arguing that the allegations had damaged her reputation and exposed her to public ridicule.
In a ruling delivered on 13 May 2026, Justice R. Harriman held that the claimant had successfully proven her case, noting that the defendant failed to provide evidence supporting the allegations.
The court found that the statements were defamatory in their natural and ordinary meaning and awarded both general and aggravated damages in favour of the claimant.
The judgment ordered VeryDarkMan to pay ₦20 million in general damages and an additional ₦10 million in aggravated damages, bringing the total to ₦30 million.
The court also directed him to publish a written apology within 14 days across two national newspapers and on all his social media platforms, including a clear retraction of the defamatory statements made in September 2024.
Justice Harriman further restrained the defendant, his agents, or associates from making any further defamatory remarks against the claimant.
Citing legal precedents, the judge emphasised that the widespread nature of the publication warranted both financial compensation and a public correction to restore the claimant’s reputation.
The ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing debate around online conduct and defamation in Nigeria’s digital space, where influencers and public figures frequently engage in unregulated and highly publicised disputes.
Legal analysts note that the case may serve as a cautionary precedent for social media users, particularly those with large followings, regarding the consequences of making unverified allegations online.