Court Slams VeryDarkMan With N30m Damages for Defaming Mr Jollof’s Wife in Viral Online Feud

A Federal High Court sitting in Effurun has ordered Nigerian social media influencer VeryDarkMan to pay ₦30 million in damages after finding him liable for defaming the wife of comedian Mr Jollof in a heated online dispute.

The judgment stems from a September 2024 social media clash between VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof, during which the influencer accused Mrs Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi of engaging in extramarital affairs with politicians and internet fraudsters in exchange for political favour for her husband.

The remarks triggered widespread backlash and legal action, with Mrs Atsepoyi filing a ₦500 million defamation suit, insisting the allegations severely damaged her reputation and public image.

In his ruling delivered on May 13, 2026, Justice R. Harriman held that the statements were defamatory in their natural meaning and were not supported by any evidence presented in court.

The court awarded ₦20 million as general damages and an additional ₦10 million as aggravated damages, bringing the total compensation to ₦30 million in favour of the claimant.

Justice Harriman further ordered VeryDarkMan to publish a public apology within 14 days in two national newspapers and across all his social media platforms, retracting the defamatory statements made in September 2024.

The court also issued a restraining order preventing any further defamatory remarks against Mrs Atsepoyi by the defendant or his associates.

The ruling referenced established legal precedents, stressing that the wide circulation of the allegations online made a strong case for both damages and a formal retraction to restore the claimant’s reputation.

The case has reignited debate in Nigeria’s digital space about the boundaries of online commentary, influencer accountability, and the legal risks attached to viral disputes on social media platforms.