A Federal High Court sitting in Effurun, Delta State, has ordered Nigerian social media personality VeryDarkMan to pay N30 million in damages to Mrs. Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi, the wife of comedian Mr. Jollof, over defamatory statements made online.
The dispute began in September 2024 during an online clash between VeryDarkMan and Mr. Jollof, in which the social media critic accused Mr. Jollof’s wife of engaging in adultery with politicians and internet fraudsters to secure political appointments for her husband in Delta State.
Mr. Jollof had responded by describing VeryDarkMan as a “product of a broken home” and accused him of lacking proper upbringing.
Following the allegations, Mrs. Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi filed a N500 million defamation suit against VeryDarkMan.
In a judgment delivered on May 13, 2026, Justice R. Harriman ruled in favor of the claimant, holding that the defendant failed to provide evidence to substantiate the allegations made against her.
According to the court document obtained by Nigerian Newssphere, the judge awarded N20 million as general damages and an additional N10 million as aggravated damages.
The court also directed VeryDarkMan to publish a retraction and apology to the claimant in two national newspapers and across all his social media platforms within 14 days.
Justice Harriman held that the statements were defamatory in their ordinary meaning and actionable under the law.
“I therefore have no hesitation in holding that the words complained of are defamatory in their natural and ordinary meaning and are actionable per se,” the judge said.
The court further restrained VeryDarkMan, his agents, and associates from making further defamatory publications against the claimant.
