Ahead of a court hearing for the defamation lawsuit filed against him, popular social media critic, VeryDarkMan (VDM), has denied defaming human rights lawyer Femi Falana and his son, singer Falz.
VDM’s defamation case stems from a controversial post in which he shared a leaked audio involving crossdresser Bobrisky, who allegedly implicated Falz and his father in a corruption-related matter.
In the audio, Bobrisky claimed that Falz and Femi Falana had contacted him while he was in jail at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, asking him to help secure a “presidential pardon” for N10 million. Both Falana and Falz quickly denied the allegations and demanded that VDM apologize and retract his statement, which they described as “defamatory,” within 24 hours.
After VDM failed to comply with the demand, the Lagos State High Court ordered him to delete the post in question ahead of the substantive hearing scheduled for Thursday, November 14, 2024, at Ikeja High Court in Lagos.
However, in a new video posted to his Instagram, VDM made it clear that he would not apologize. He reiterated his stance that the video he shared was aimed at exposing corruption in Nigeria, rather than defaming the Falanas.
“I just arrived in Lagos for the Femi Falana case against me at the Ikeja High Court by 9:00 AM. I came to Lagos ahead of that,” VDM said in the video. “As you all know, they (Falana and Falz) said I defamed them, but for me, it’s corruption that I exposed.”
VDM continued, criticizing what he saw as systemic corruption in the country, mentioning how someone might go to prison but not serve time, or how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) might accept bribes rather than fighting corruption.
“That’s what I exposed. But sadly, some people, Falana and Falz, whose names were mentioned, said I should have informed them before posting such things about them,” he said. “They asked me to apologize. I don’t see anything wrong with what I did, so I’m not apologizing to anybody. They should clear their name.”
VDM also shared his frustration about the situation, explaining that he had already made efforts to show respect, even going so far as to “prostrate” for Falana, but he felt his actions had not been reciprocated. “I have tried to respect them, but it didn’t work because I went to prostrate for Falana, yet they insisted that I must go and apologize,” he added. “Now it is time for the court hearing, and heaven won’t fall.”
VDM closed the video by expressing his willingness to continue speaking out. “Tomorrow, if I hear their names again, I will post it. I don’t fear anybody’s father. I don’t want a country where, when it is someone’s time, we should keep quiet.”
The case continues to draw attention, with many following the court proceedings and the ongoing public dispute.
