Esinjemiyotan Atsepoyi, the wife of popular Nigerian comedian Jollof, has filed a defamation suit against Martins Otse aka VeryDarkMan, demanding compensation of N500 million.
Jollof made this known in an Instagram post on Tuesday. The suit, filed on September 27 at the Delta State High Court in Effurun, is a response to what Ms Atsepoyi claimed were defamatory posts made by VeryDarkMan on Instagram between September 15 and 19.
Alleged defamation claims
The lawsuit, outlined in a summons order and statement of claim, centers on allegations that VeryDarkMan used his Instagram account to accuse Ms. Atsepoyi of committing adultery with a “Yahoo boy” and “several politicians.”
These actions, according to VeryDarkMan, were aimed at helping her husband, Mr. Jollof, secure a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) position in the Delta State Government.
In another Instagram post, VeryDarkMan further suggested that Jollof should take a DNA test to verify the paternity of one of his children. The controversial whistleblower claimed to have witnesses who supported his accusations and added that he was prepared for any legal action his posts could provoke.
These allegations, according to the lawsuit, were “viewed by millions of people online,” including many of Ms. Atsepoyi’s clients and potential clients. The statement of claim claimed that the defamatory content “lowered the Claimant in the estimation of proper members of society” and has caused her “pain, shame, hatred, contempt and ridicule”.
Legal claims
In the suit, Mrs Atsepoyi seeks N500 million as compensation for the damage caused to her reputation and business. He is also asking the court for an order directing VeryDarkMan to publicly apologize in at least two national newspapers and on all of his social media platforms.
Article page with financial support promotion
The plaintiff prayed before the court for: “A statement that the defendant (VeryDarkMan) defamed the plaintiff in his online publication on September 15, 16, and in the early hours of September 19, 2024.
“An order of this Honorable Court directing the respondent to pay the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as general damages. An order directing the defendant to publish an apology to the plaintiff in two national newspapers and on all his social networks. “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from making defamatory publications against the plaintiff.”
Additionally, Ms Atsepoyi sought an injunction to restrain VeryDarkMan from making any further defamatory statements against her, directly or through his associates.
Professional damages
Ms Atsepoyi, married to Mr Jollof since 2014, is an accomplished event organiser. According to the suit, his business, which generates over N100 million annually, has been greatly affected due to the allegations.
The lawsuit claimed that following VDM's defamatory posts, his business was bombarded with “negative insults” and harmful comments from customers and the general public. The claim included screenshots of these comments as evidence.
The lawsuit describes how the defamatory posts have also affected his family, particularly his children, who have faced ridicule from their peers. Mrs Atsepoyi's relationship with her in-laws and her husband has also been strained due to the allegations.
According to the statement of claim, Ms Atsepoyi had no prior personal interaction with VeryDarkMan prior to these defamatory posts, which she describes as “false and malicious”.
Despite his lawyer's letter, dated September 19, demanding a retraction, VeryDarkMan allegedly refused to remove the posts or offer an apology, prompting legal action.
VDM reacted to the lawsuit with derision on Wednesday, derisively referring to Mr. Jollof as “You be mumu,” which means “you are a foolish man.”
The public has been divided over the ongoing dispute, with social media users expressing various opinions on the legal battle.
Background
The defamation lawsuit between VeryDarkMan, Jollof and Atsepoyi arose from allegations made by VDM during a public dispute with the comedian.
The controversial activist initially criticized Mr Jollof's qualifications to be appointed Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori. He argued that Jollof, who promotes gambling and has been seen smoking hashish and other drugs in public, should not hold a position meant to inspire young people. To support his argument, VDM shared videos of Mr. Jollof endorsing betting and stated that such actions were inappropriate for someone in public office.
In response, Jollof accused VDM of chasing influence, mocking him for not getting endorsements despite his influence on social media. He also accused VDM of insulting his wife, Mrs Atsepoyi, and retaliated by attacking VDM's mother, calling him a product of a broken home. He also insulted VDM, claiming that he was gay and transgender, and threatened to deal with him if they met in public.
In return, VDM escalated the situation by investigating and claiming that Mrs Atsepoyi had extramarital affairs with senior officials to secure her husband's position in the SSA. This back-and-forth has resulted in a public and legal dispute between the parties. The activist also claimed that the media personality surprised his wife at the Cocoa Butterfly hotel in Ogborowke, leaving him in tears. He added that Mr Jollof allegedly shouted outside the hotel, went inside and allegedly took his wife home. These accusations sparked significant controversy online.
In response, Ms Atsepoyi, through her lawyers, issued a cease and desist letter, demanding a public apology and retraction within 24 hours. His legal team argued that VDM's comments were false, defamatory and designed to damage his reputation and his marriage.
The letter stressed that the couple had been happily married since 2014, without scandals, and pointed out the negative impact on Mrs Atsepoyi's event planning business. The situation became even worse when VDM's home address was leaked online, forcing him to flee to a different location for safety.