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Court Fixes Date For Falana, Falz’s N1bn Suit Against VDM

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A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Thursday adjourned the N1bn defamation suit filed by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son Folarin, popularly known as Falz, against Martins Otse alias VeryDarkBlackMan, to February 19, 2025.

The court fixed the date to hear a preliminary objection filed by VeryDarkBlackMan, through his lawyer, Marvin Omorogbe, challenging the suit’s competence and the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

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The Falanas had dragged VeryDarkBlackMan before the court and demanded N500m each as damages over a video he posted on his social media platforms alleging that they collected N10m from Idris Okuneye, a.k.a Bobrisky, to pervert the cause of justice.

The judge had, on the last adjourned date, October 14, 2024, ordered the social media influencer to bring down the defamatory video and comments he allegedly made against the senior lawyer and his son.

READ ALSO: Knocks, Kudos As VeryDarkMan Shares Another Alleged Fall Recording Of Bobrisky

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Justice Matthias Dawodu had also restrained the self-acclaimed social media police from further releasing, publishing, or circulating any defamatory videos and comments against the senior lawyer and his son on all his online social media handles and pages pending the hearing of a suit filed by the duo.

The judge also ordered that all the processes in the matter be served on VeryDarkBlackMan through his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, the defence counsel, Marvin Omorogbe, informed the court that he was served with a copy of the counter-affidavit filed by the plaintiffs against his preliminary objection on Wednesday, and he needed time to respond to it.

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The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Omotade Omotunbosun, did not object to the application for adjournment.

Following the development, Justice Dawodu adjourned the matter to February 19, 2025, for a hearing.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Falana, Falz Give Bobrisky 12 Hours To Apologise, Retract Defamatory Claims

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In the application, VeryDarkBlackMan argued through his lawyer that by the provisions of Order 4 Rule 1(4) of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, the court does not have the territorial jurisdiction to entertain this suit.

Omorogbe also argued that the defendant is domiciled and carries on business in Abuja, outside the jurisdiction of the court and that the alleged defamatory publication was made in Abuja.

He also claimed that the claimants deliberately filed the suit before the court as a way of forum shopping in the hope that they would get a favourable judgment.

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In their suits, the father and son averred that the defendant knew all his comments were inaccurate and not verified, yet proceeded to publish the same to injure their reputation recklessly.

READ ALSO: Falz, Vector Diss INEC Chair In New Song Titled Yakubu

They also stated that the alleged defamatory publication was still trending in the defendant’s online handles and pages, adding that the injury to their reputation continues as long as the publication remains online.

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The applicant alleged that in the unverified audio recording of a one-sided narrative by the alleged Bobrisky, the said Bobrisky never said that the claimant/applicant herein collected N10m from him, yet the defendant recklessly stated that Femi Falana collected N10m from Bobrisky.

The Falanas are seeking the following reliefs: “a declaration that the publication of the defendant made on September 24, 2024, on his Instagram handle, @verydarkblackman, wherein he specifically targeted the Claimant, is libellous, slanderous, derogatory, scandalous and defamatory.

READ ALSO: Falana Asks Court To Dismiss Charges Against Arraigned Minors

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“The sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira Only) for defamation of character contained in the defendant’s video publication of September 24, 2024, on his Instagram handle @verydarkblackman.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his agents or servants or otherwise from further publishing or causing to be published the said or similar words of defamatory to the claimant.

“An order directing the defendant to publish an apology to the claimant on all his social media handles/pages for the defamatory words contained in the video complained of and in one National Daily Newspaper.”

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Gunmen Abduct Nine Passengers as driver, six Others Escape In Kogi

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Bandits have reportedly abducted nine passengers in Ogbabo Junction along the Itobe–Anyigba road in Kogi State, while the driver and six passengers miraculously escaped abduction.

It was reliably gathered that the incident occurred on Friday evening at about 4:20 p.m. near Ogbabo Junction in Ofu Local Government Area, where a bus with registration number ENZ-55 XS and a blue Toyota Carina ‘E’ were found abandoned.

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It was learnt that the gunmen, who were laying ambush at the location, suddenly burst onto the expressway when they noticed a Hummer bus loaded with passengers approaching.

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The gunmen forced the bus to a halt and started firing shots to scare the passengers, who were travelling in a Peace Mass Transit vehicle suspected to be heading towards the East.

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However, the driver of the bus, identified as Mr Sunday Okechi, outsmarted the gunmen and escaped into the bush along with six passengers. But the nine other passengers were not so lucky, as they were marched into the surrounding bushes.

The scene of the abduction was just about 300 metres from the next military checkpoint along the Ogbabo–Ochadamu road. Security personnel were swiftly mobilised to the scene, where the bus with registration number ENZ-55 XS and a blue Toyota Carina ‘E’ were found abandoned.

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Both vehicles have been taken into safe custody.

Security agencies, in collaboration with local security outfits such as the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and local hunters, have since commenced a search-and-rescue operation to track the kidnappers and rescue the victims.

The Kogi State Police Command in Lokoja is yet to respond to the incident. The command spokesman, SP Williams Ovye, could not be reached on the phone as his line indicated it was switched off.

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I Cheated On My Husband Only 3 Times, Woman Confessed In Court

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…I want divorce —Husband

“I only had sex with Moses Sililo three times; the first time in an unfinished building, the second time on our matrimonial bed and the third time at a friend’s house”, a cheating housewife of Chipata Compound, Lasaka, Zambia has confessed.

This is in a matter where 44-year-old Ben Bwalya of Chipata Compound in Lusaka, has sued his wife, Jane Phiri, aged 32, for divorce in the Matero Local Court citing adultery as the cause.

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Jane told the court that she opted to sub-contract Moses who lives in their neighbourhood to provide sexual services to her on the three instances as her husband was too busy with his phone every time he returned from work.

READ ALSO:‘I Found Out That My Husband Was Not Single; He Threatened Me With Gun, Cutlass’

However, Jane begged the court not to end her marriage with Ben over a mere three rounds of sex with Moses.

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She told the court that her cheating sessions were very brief and her husband should not be granted divorce.

Jane also promised never to have sex with Moses again but remain loyal to her husband.

However, Ben told the court that he could no longer cast his eyes on the body of his adulterous wife as her confession was too filthy for him to swallow.

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My Husband Abandoned Me After I Fed, Clothed Him For Years, Woman Tells Court

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Grade A Customary Court, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has put an end to the 15-year-old wedlock between a woman, Rakiat and her husband, Ibrahim, on the ground of lack of love, irresponsibility and abandonment.

Rakiat, who dragged her husband to court, stated that he stopped loving her a long time ago.

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She explained that Ibrahim cared less about her welfare and that of her husband, while he stopped showing her affection a few years after they got married.

The plaintiff also stated that the defendant constantly shirked his responsibility in the home, giving paucity of fund as his excuse.

According to the plaintiff, she played the dual role of breadwinner and home keeper on a daily basis.

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READ ALSO:NBA Slams Niger Gov Over Shutting Down Of Radio Station

Rakia added that Ibrahim later stopped coming home and that he finally came to the house one day, packed all his belongings and moved out.

She said: “He later took to threatening me.

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“I appeal to this honourable court to dissolve our union and grant me custody of the only child produced by it.

“I also request an order restraining my husband from threatening me and coming to my house and workplace to fight me.”

Ibrahim refused to make an appearance in court despite being served court summonses.

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Rakiat in her evidence said, “I started living with my husband a few months after we met, although he did not pay my bride price.

READ ALSO:‘I Discovered My Husband Was Sterile 5 Yrs After We Got Married’

My husband started proving to be irresponsible and unreliable a few months after we got married.

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“He always gave excuses to dodge his responsibilities in the home, the major one being lack of fund.

“He loved to be respected as the head of the home but was never ready to bear the responsibilities that come with the title.

“I work round the clock to ensure there was food on the table, while I also cloth everyone.

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“My husband felt comfortable being fed by me.

“He suddenly stopped coming home and gave no clue about his whereabouts.

READ ALSO:My Husband Accused Me Of Infidelity; Beat Me Black And Blue —Wife

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My husband later returned home and packed all his belongings. He left home without a word and never bothered to ask after our only child’s welfare.

“My lord, I appeal to this honourable court to dissolve our marriage so that I can move on with my life.

“I also beg the court to grant me custody of our child because he never cares about her.”

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The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo ruling on the matter, stated that the defendant was given ample opportunity to defend himself, but that he did not make use of it.

Akintayo dissolved their union and granted the plaintiff custody of their children.
(TRIBUNE)

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