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The Lagos State High Court has ordered social media critic, Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, to delete defamatory statements and videos concerning prominent lawyer and human rights advocate Femi Falana (SAN), and his musician son, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz.
Justice M. O. Idowu delivered the ruling in suit no: ID/8584/GCM/2024), on Monday, October 15, 2024.
The court's decision followed a series of posts made by Otse on September 24, 2024, in which he linked the Falanas to the bribery allegation involving controversial cross dresser, Idris Okuneye better known as Bobrisky, officials of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Justice Idowu stated that the comments were "defamatory and injurious" to Falana and his son's public reputations.
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According to the applicants, the court noted, "the defendant knew these statements were false and untrue but proceeded to publish them to injure their reputation."
Falana and Falz argued that the claims had no basis in truth and were created to tarnish their standing.
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Dawodu, speaking for the applicants, noted that VeryDarkMan's allegations remained highly visible on his social media platforms, thereby "continuing the injury to their reputation as long as the publication remains online."
The judgment emphasised the need for the prompt removal of defamatory posts to prevent further reputational harm, making this a landmark ruling in Nigeria's fight against online defamation.