Gospel singer Mercy Chinwo has filed a N1.1 billion defamation lawsuit against blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The lawsuit follows a series of social media posts in which the blogger allegedly made false and damaging statements against Chinwo, accusing her of being involved in a contractual dispute and the diversion of $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as EeZee Tee.
The suit, filed by Chinwo’s lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, seeks a court order directing the blogger to delete all allegedly defamatory posts, retract the statements, and publish a public apology across his social media platforms and in national newspapers.
Chinwo has presented documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to prove that the allegations are baseless.
According to the lawsuit, the blogger made a series of posts on his Instagram handle on February 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, and 17, 2025, alleging that Chinwo engaged in secret financial dealings, manipulated legal proceedings, and orchestrated an EFCC detention for strategic media advantage.
The lawyer argued that the posts were intended to damage Chinwo’s reputation, lower her standing in society, and cause emotional and professional harm.
The lawsuit demands that the court direct the blogger to remove all defamatory posts, retract his statements, and publish an unreserved apology in at least two widely circulated national newspapers.
It also requests a further apology to be published in four national dailies for 14 consecutive days. Additionally, Chinwo is seeking N1 billion in general damages for defamation, N100 million in punitive and aggravated damages, N25 million to cover legal costs, and a 10 percent interest on the judgment sum per annum until full payment is made.
The defamation suit comes as a Federal High Court in Lagos recently upheld an arrest warrant against EeZee Tee over an alleged fraudulent conversion case, adjourning the matter to March 6, 2025, for arraignment.
While Chinwo maintains that she has no direct involvement in the legal battle between EeZee Tee and law enforcement, her lawsuit states that the blogger deliberately misrepresented events to tarnish her image.
