This development came after Otse refused to appear in court despite being summoned on March 5, 2025. Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the bench warrant on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Deji Adeyanju, VeryDarkMan's lawyer, attempted to fight the bench warrant, offering to personally accompany his client to court.
However, Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna denied the petition, directing that VeryDarkMan be produced in court by security agents instead. The bench warrant was obtained in response to claimed defamatory claims made by VeryDarkMan on social media, claiming that gospel singer Mercy Chinwo was embroiled in a contractual dispute and had routed $345,000 to her former record label boss, Eezee Tee. Chinwo's legal team, lead by Pelumi Olajengbesi, presented documented proof, including emails and payment receipts, to back up her assertions that VeryDarkMan's charges were untrue and damaging to her reputation. According to Chinwo's lawyers, VeryDarkMan's acts are in violation of Section 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.It is worth noting that Mercy Chinwo's legal team has also filed a complaint against VeryDarkMan (VDM) at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. The complaint is seeking N1.1 billion in damages from Verydarkman. Furthermore, Chinwo's lawyer is requesting a court order for VDM to delete and withdraw all allegedly false and defamatory statements made about Chinwo and her brand. Furthermore, VDM would have to make a public apology for the harm caused by his words.