Metro

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

Published

1 year ago

January 24, 2025

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.”

Metro

Violence Rocks APC Reps Primary In Ekiti Ward, Exercise Declared Inconclusive

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2026

Editor

Chaos erupted at the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary for Ward 10, Fajuyi Pavilion, Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Saturday.

Electoral officials halted the process and declared it inconclusive after violence broke out among party supporters.

The primary pitted Olushola Fatoba against Tope Ogunleye, widely known as RST. Loyalists and agents of both aspirants had converged on Fajuyi Pavilion before voting was scheduled to begin.

According to eyewitnesses, tensions rose when suspected thugs allegedly backing Fatoba stormed the venue wielding canes and firearms. Their arrival appeared aimed at intimidating Ogunleye’s supporters and suppressing turnout.

Despite the hostile atmosphere, Ogunleye’s backers held their ground, chanting solidarity songs in support of their candidate. Voting eventually started under heavy tension.

Observers at the scene said Ogunleye seemed to have the larger share of support among members present, with his base visibly outnumbering the opposition.

Violence broke out after Fatoba’s camp allegedly sensed an imminent loss. Clashes between both groups forced an abrupt end to voting.

During the unrest, Ogunleye’s agent, Mr. Sunday, was assaulted. Another member, Mr. Femi Ogunleye, was reportedly beaten and his Tecno Spark 9 phone seized. A female supporter, Mrs. Oluwaseun Osamuwa, was also attacked and her Apple Smart Wrist Watch stolen. Both Mr. Femi Ogunleye and Mrs. Osamuwa sustained injuries and were rushed to hospital.

As of press time, no winner had emerged and the Ward 10 primary remained inconclusive.

The violence has renewed concerns over thuggery and intimidation in internal party elections. Party members and political observers say the incident raises serious questions about voters’ ability to freely choose candidates without fear.

Stakeholders are calling on security agencies and electoral authorities to probe the disruption, ensure justice for those attacked, and safeguard the credibility of future primaries.

Metro

My Wife Destroyed My Property, Instigated Our Children To Beat Me, Man Tells Court

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2026

Editor

The Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting in Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has delivered judgment in a divorce suit filed by a man, Theophilus, against his wife, Aina, whom she accused of lack of affection, frequent quarrels, and domestic violence.

According to Theophilus, Aina was stubborn and always insisted on having things her own way.

He further said that she was disobedient and refused to listen to him.

The plaintiff also told the court that the defendant was hostile towards their friends and neighbours, which often led to conflicts between them.

He further claimed that Aina was violent and would attack him with any object within her reach during disagreements.

In addition, he accused her of destroying his property whenever they had differences.

Theophilus also explained that Aina turned their children against him.

He stated that they assaulted him and damaged his belongings.

He told the court that he eventually left their home because he feared for his safety and believed that the defendant intended to harm him.

The plaintiff therefore appealed to the court to dissolve their marriage and also requested an order restraining Aina from threatening him or interfering with his privacy.

Aina was absent from court despite being served court summons.

Theophilus, while giving his testimony before the court, stated, “I have not enjoyed peace or rest of mind since I married my wife.

“I paid her bride price to her family, but they rejected it.

“My wife is far from being a virtuous woman.

“She was never submissive and was always full of herself.

“She had no respect for me and disobeyed my instructions whenever she wished.

“She neither listened to me nor accepted my advice.

“My wife was also violent.

“During disagreements, she attacked me with any dangerous object she could lay her hands on.

“On three different occasions, Aina destroyed my property.

“Our neighbours and friends were not exempt from her hostility.

“She was constantly at loggerheads with them and fought with them on several occasions.

“My wife also turned our children against me.

“They beat me mercilessly and nearly killed me.

“They also destroyed my belongings.

“I left the house after the incident because it became obvious that my wife wanted me dead.

“I came to court to seek the dissolution of our marriage because my wife’s presence in my life has brought me nothing but pain and suffering.

“I sincerely appeal to the court to dissolve our marriage.

“I also request an order restraining her from threatening me or interfering with my privacy.”

The Court President, Mrs. O. E. Owoseni, while delivering judgment, stated that there was no valid marriage to dissolve because no marital rites were performed, and no bride price was paid.

Owoseni also issued an order restraining the defendant from threatening or interfering with the plaintiff’s private life

Metro

‘I Have Nowhere To Go, He Married Me At 14yrs Old, Now He Wants Divorce 30yrs After’

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2026

Editor

A 44-year-old woman, Zainab Isah, has told a Shari’a Court 1 sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna, Kaduna State, that she had nowhere to go after her divorce from her husband, Alhaji Abdulhamid.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Zainab told the court that Abdulhamid married her when she was 14 years old.

“I have been married to him for 30 years now and our union is blessed with 10 children,” she stated.

She further said that her husband divorced her on January 1.

“I am yet to complete my waiting period (Iddah), as required under Islam.

“I lived in peace with my co-wives but I can’t leave my children for them; three of my children are sick,” she said.

Earlier , Abdulrashid Musa, counsel to Abdulhamid, prayed the court to compel Zainab to leave his house since they were no longer married.

He said he had issued two pronouncement of divorce to the defendant.

The first, he said was pronounced on December 29, 2025, adding that she had finished her Iddah.

He stated that all efforts made by him to ensure she leaves his house, failed.

He alleged that she was causing trouble for his other wives.

The complainant however, told the court that he was ready to pay for his ex wife’s rent when she gets a new place to live with her children.

The judge, Malam Mu’awiya Shehu said the rights of a woman for shelter, feeding and other provisions by the husband ends when divorce occur adding that only the children have the right to be taken care of .

He adjourned the matter to June 1 for the defendant to find a new place she can relocate to with her children.