A Federal High Court sitting in Effurun, Delta State, has ordered social media personality VeryDarkMan to pay ₦30 million in damages to Mrs. Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi, the wife of comedian Mr Jollof, over defamatory statements.………
The controversy reportedly began in September 2024 during an online dispute between VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof, when the social commentator allegedly accused Mr Jollof’s wife of engaging in adultery with politicians and internet fraudsters to help her husband secure a political appointment in Delta State.
Reacting to the allegations at the time, Mr Jollof publicly defended his wife and criticized VeryDarkMan, while Mrs. Atsepoyi later filed a ₦500 million defamation lawsuit against the activist.
According to court documents reportedly signed by Hon. Justice R. Harriman on May 13, 2026, the court ruled against VeryDarkMan after he allegedly failed to provide evidence to substantiate the claims made against Mrs. Atsepoyi.
The court further ordered the social media critic to issue a public apology and retraction within 14 days through two national newspapers and across all his social media platforms.
In his ruling, Justice Harriman stated:
“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
