The Lagos State High Court has ruled that social media critic Martin Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, must remove defamatory content about prominent lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz. The court has also ordered him to pay a fine of N500 million for libel.
Justice M. O. Idowu issued the ruling on Tuesday in case number ID/8584/GCM/2024. The case arose from remarks and videos that VeryDarkMan posted on September 24, 2024, which wrongly associated the Falana family with controversial internet personality Bobrisky.
The court found that VeryDarkMan’s statements were defamatory and harmful to the reputation of both Femi Falana and his son, Falz. According to the judgment, the critic was aware that his claims were false but chose to publish them with the intent to damage their reputations.
Justice Idowu stated, “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.” The court has directed VeryDarkMan to immediately delete the offending content.
Background
Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is a highly respected human rights lawyer known for his activism and legal work in civil rights protection. His son, Folarin Falana, known as Falz, is a popular rapper, actor, and lawyer recognized for his social and political activism through music and public engagement.
The defamatory comments made by Martin Otse on his social media accounts linked Femi and Falz to Bobrisky, a controversial figure known for her or his outspoken views on gender and LGBTQ+ issues in Nigeria. This association was particularly damaging to the Falana family’s public image due to their respected status in society.
Feeling that their reputation had been unjustly harmed, the Falana family filed a defamation lawsuit against VeryDarkMan at a Lagos High Court. The court ruled in their favor, concluding that the allegations were false and intended to harm their reputation.
This case highlights the significant impact of social media on public perception and the potential legal consequences that can arise from careless and unfounded statements. It also emphasizes the Falana family’s commitment to defending their reputation in the public sphere.
The court’s decision, including the N500 million fine, serves as a strong warning about the risks of defamation in the digital era, especially involving well-known individuals.
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