A Federal High Court in Delta State has ruled against social media influencer VeryDarkMan, ordering him to compensate Mrs. Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi, the wife of comedian Mr Jollof, with N30 million for defamation. The judgment, delivered by Justice R. Harriman on May 13, 2026, comes after VeryDarkMan publicly accused her of infidelity with politicians and internet fraudsters, claiming she helped her husband obtain a political position in Delta State.
The controversy began in September 2024 during an online feud between VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof. In response to VeryDarkMan’s allegations, Mr Jollof countered by calling VeryDarkMan a poorly raised individual from a broken home. Mrs. Atsepoyi subsequently initiated a N500 million defamation suit against VeryDarkMan, seeking redress for the damage to her reputation.
During the proceedings, VeryDarkMan failed to provide any evidence to substantiate his claims. Consequently, the court ordered him to pay N20 million in general damages and an additional N10 million in aggravated damages. Furthermore, the judge mandated that VeryDarkMan issue a public apology within 14 days, which must be published in two national newspapers and across all his social media platforms, retracting the defamatory statements made on September 15, 16, and early on September 19, 2024.
In his ruling, Justice Harriman emphasized that the words were clearly defamatory and actionable per se, citing previous legal precedents. He also imposed a permanent injunction restraining VeryDarkMan from making any further defamatory publications against the claimant. The decision underscores the serious repercussions of online defamation and the legal protections afforded to individuals against false accusations.