A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has adjourned a high-profile N1 billion defamation lawsuit filed by senior human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his musician son, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, against social media influencer Martins Otse, alias VeryDarkBlackMan. The case will now resume on February 19, 2025.
The adjournment follows a preliminary objection filed by the defendant’s lawyer, Marvin Omorogbe, who is challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case. Omorogbe contends that the alleged defamatory publication was made in Abuja, where the defendant resides and conducts business, arguing that the Lagos court lacks territorial jurisdiction.
The Falanas are seeking damages of ₦500 million each, alleging that the defendant defamed them in a video shared on his Instagram account on September 24, 2024. In the video, VeryDarkBlackMan accused the duo of accepting ₦10 million from Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, to influence the outcome of a legal case. The father and son describe the claims as baseless and reckless, asserting that the defendant published the video with the intent to harm their reputation.
On October 14, 2024, Justice Matthias Dawodu had ordered the defendant to remove the contentious video from all his social media platforms. The judge also issued a restraining order prohibiting further publication of defamatory content about the claimants pending the resolution of the case.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Omorogbe requested additional time to respond to the plaintiffs’ counter-affidavit against his preliminary objection. Omotade Omotunbosun, representing the Falanas, did not oppose the request, leading to the adjournment.
In his filing, Omorogbe accused the Falanas of “forum shopping,” alleging they deliberately filed the lawsuit in Lagos to secure a favourable outcome. He argued that the suit violates the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, which govern territorial jurisdiction.
The Falanas maintain that the claims made by the defendant were unverified and malicious, further alleging that the video continues to circulate online, causing ongoing damage to their reputation.
The legal reliefs sought by the Falanas include ₦500 million in damages for each claimant, a public apology from the defendant across his social media platforms and a national newspaper, and a perpetual injunction to prevent further defamatory publications.
As the courtroom drama unfolds, the case underscores the growing tensions between public figures and influencers in Nigeria’s social media-driven landscape.
