The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out the preliminary objection and application for a stay of proceedings filed by Martins Otse Vincent, aka VeryDarkMan (VDM), in the ongoing legal dispute involving Nigerian musician and actor Falz—whose real name is Folarin Falana—and the son of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana.
The court session held on Tuesday addressed issues that arose following VDM’s initial failure to comply with the originating application. Although the application eventually became moot upon VDM’s compliance, he went on to file a preliminary objection, alleging a multiplicity of actions.
However, the court held that it had become functus officio on the matter, as it was now properly before another court.
It ruled that any further proceedings on the matter would amount to “an academic exercise”.
Consequently, the court struck out VDM’s preliminary objection.
Newsmen learnt that VDM filed an application for a stay of proceedings on Monday, April 14, 2025.
“The above is also applicable in the sister case between Femi Falana, SAN, and Martins Otse (VDM),” a source told Newsmen.
Meanwhile, newsmen reported in 2024 that the Falanas had sued VeryDarkMan to claim N500 million each in damages, among other things, over a video he posted on his social media platforms, alleging that they collected N10 million from Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Femi Falana and Folarin Falana averted that the defendant should be held liable for defamation because he deliberately failed to verify the claims and facts contained in his video before publication.
They insisted that VeryDarkMan knew all his comments were unverified and untrue, yet he published them recklessly to injure their reputation.
Meanwhile, Justice Matthias Dawodu, while ruling on an exparte application for an order of interim and preemptive remedy brought by the Falanas, held that they had legal rights to be protected from slander.
The presiding judge also ordered VDM to delete the alleged defamatory video that he made on September 24 against the SAN and his son.
The influencer was also restrained by the court from further releasing, publishing, or circulating any defamatory videos and comments against the senior lawyer and his son on all his online social media handles and pages pending the hearing of a suit filed by the duo.
