VeryDarkMan faces N500m fine for defamatory comments against Femi Falana, Falz

The Lagos State High Court has ruled that social media critic VeryDarkMan, must remove defamatory comments and videos about respected lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, rapper and activist, Falz.

The court also fined Otse N500 million for libel.

Justice M. O. Idowu gave the ruling on Tuesday in case ID/8584/GCM/2024, which focused on remarks and videos posted by VeryDarkMan on September 24, 2024, falsely linking the Falana family to internet personality Bobrisky.

VeryDarkMan faces N500m fine for defamatory comments against Femi Falana, Falz

The court found that the statements were defamatory and harmed the reputations of both Femi Falana and Falz.

“The defamatory statements continue to trend on the defendant’s social media platforms, causing ongoing harm to the applicants’ reputation as long as the publications remain online,” Justice Idowu stated, ordering VDM to take down the content immediately.

Femi Falana is a prominent human rights lawyer in Nigeria, while his son Falz is well-known for his music, acting, and activism.

The false claims by VeryDarkMan suggested a connection between the Falanas and Bobrisky, a controversial figure in Nigeria, damaging their public image.

The court’s decision underscores the legal risks of spreading false information on social media, especially when it targets high-profile individuals.

The N500 million fine serves as a warning about the consequences of defamation in the digital age.

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