By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
In the ongoing defamation saga between gospel singer Mercy Chinwo and controversial social media figure VeryDarkman, we find ourselves questioning the seriousness of the matter.
The case has certainly taken an interesting turn, with Deji Adeyanju, the lawyer representing VeryDarkman, dismissing the legal battle as “a complete joke.”
We can not help but wonder if the drama unfolding in the courtroom and on social media is actually more about theatrics than about seeking justice.
In a report by Africaworldnews, it was revealed that a Magistrate Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for VeryDarkman’s arrest on March 13, 2025, for allegedly defaming Mercy Chinwo’s reputation. This came after he failed to respond to a court summons issued on March 5, 2025.
However, the situation escalated further when Mercy Chinwo filed a lawsuit in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, demanding N1.1 billion in damages from VeryDarkman for statements he made on social media.
The accusations? Alleged involvement in a contractual dispute and the misappropriation of $345,000 connected to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.
But Adeyanju’s response to these claims suggests that he is far from worried about the proceedings. During an interview with AIT, he openly scoffed at the case, calling it a “complete joke.”
He further questioned the rationale behind the claim for N1.1 billion in damages, stating, “Pay N1.1 billion for what? Over what? I don’t want to discuss this issue because this is not a court of law.
And again, I don’t want to reveal our strategies to the other side. So, we have no comment. It [the court case] is nothing serious… It’s a joke. It’s a complete joke.”
For us, this raises the question: is this legal action really deserving of the public’s attention, or is it simply a spectacle? It is easy to dismiss the case as nothing more than a PR stunt for both sides, after all, social media has made it easier for controversies to escalate.
But when you consider the potential consequences of defamation and the legal avenues available for redress, it is hard not to feel that the situation deserves a closer look.
VeryDarkman, who is currently abroad, seems to share his lawyer’s bold stance. He has even gone so far as to challenge security agencies, daring them to arrest him when he returns to Nigeria.
Whether or not this is just more bravado remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure; this drama is far from over. For us, the case raises an important point about the role of social media in modern defamation.
While public figures like Mercy Chinwo and VeryDarkman may have their own motives, it is crucial for the public to look past the surface and question what is really at stake here.
Is this a serious legal matter, or has it simply become the latest spectacle in a world that thrives on controversy? Only time will tell.
