A Delta State Federal High Court sitting in Effurun has ordered popular Nigerian social media personality, VeryDarkMan, to pay N30 million in damages to comedian Mr Jollof’s wife, Mrs Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi.
It all started in September 2024 when VeryDarkMan, during his online altercation with Mr Jollof, accused his wife of committing adultery with politicians and Yahoo boys to help her husband secure a political appointment in Delta State.
In response, Mr Jollof, who described VeryDarkMan as a product of a broken home, said he was not well trained.
Reacting to the allegations against her, Mr Jollof’s wife, Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi, filed a N500 million defamation lawsuit against VeryDarkMan.
However, in a court document signed by Hon. Justice R. Harriman on May 13, 2026, and obtained by DAILY POST, the court ordered VeryDarkMan, who was unable to provide evidence to back his claim, to pay N30 million for defamation.
The judge also gave VeryDarkMan a 14-day ultimatum to publish an apology to Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi in two national dailies and across all his social media handles, containing a retraction of the defamatory words.
In his ruling, Justice Harriman said: “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.
“I find that the Claimant is entitled to general and aggravated damages and an injunction. See DIAMOND BANK v. OKPALA (2016) LPELR-41573(CA) and OBOK & ORS v. AGBOR & ORS (2016) LPELR-41219(CA). Given the wide dissemination of the defamatory material, a retraction and apology are appropriate to restore the Claimant’s reputation.
“Judgment is hereby entered in favour of the Claimant against the defendant as follows: It is declared that the words published by the Defendant concerning the Claimant are defamatory.
“N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) as general damages; N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) as aggravated damages. The Defendant is hereby directed to publish an apology to the Claimant in two national dailies and all his social media handles containing a retraction of the defamatory words contained in the Defendant’s online publication of 15th, 16th, and in the early hours of 19th September, 2024, within 14 days of this judgment.
“The Defendant, by himself, his agents, and/or privies, is hereby restrained from further making any defamatory publication against the Claimant,” the court ordered.
