Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan has arrived at the Ikeja High Court today dressed in traditional Benin attire, marking the beginning in his ongoing legal battle with prominent Nigerian lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin Falana, better known as Falz.
VeryDarkMan, an online influencer is embroiled in a defamation lawsuit filed by Femi Falana and Falz. The case stems from a series of social media posts where VeryDarkMan allegedly published an audio content, allegedly from Bobrisky that the Falanas claim defames their character. This legal confrontation has drawn widespread interest due to the high-profile nature of both parties involved and the cultural significance of the attire chosen by VeryDarkMan for the court appearance.
VeryDarkMan’s choice to wear traditional Benin attire was not just a fashion statement but a bold assertion of his cultural identity amidst the legal proceedings. It will be recalled that he worn a similar attire though white colour when he was invited a community in the National Assembly. The outfit, featuring intricate patterns and symbols significant to Benin culture, served as a visual reminder of his roots and perhaps an attempt to resonate with a broader cultural narrative in the face of legal adversity.
The core of the lawsuit revolves around an audio recording circulated by VeryDarkMan, which allegedly implicated Femi Falana in a scheme involving Bobrisky, a popular Nigerian cross-dresser, concerning financial misconduct and a presidential pardon. The Falanas have denied these allegations, labeling them baseless and defamatory, hence prompting legal action.
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The court, under Justice Matthias Dawodu, has previously issued an injunction restraining VeryDarkMan from further publishing or circulating any potentially defamatory content against the Falanas. Additionally, he was ordered to remove the contentious video from all his online platforms pending compliance with the court’s pre-action protocol.
The arrival of VeryDarkMan in such culturally rich attire has sparked discussions across social media platforms, with many viewing it as a stand against perceived Western legal norms or as a strategic use of cultural symbolism in a legal context. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media sites have been circulating images and videos of his court entrance, with opinions varying from support for his cultural expression to debates over the appropriateness of such attire in a legal setting.
