A Delta State Federal High Court sitting in Effurun has ordered popular Nigerian social media personality VeryDarkMan to pay N30 million in damages for defaming Mrs. Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi, wife of comedian Mr. Jollof.
The ruling, signed by Hon. Justice R. Harriman on May 13, 2026, marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s growing legal reckoning with social media misconduct.
The case traces back to September 2024, when a public online altercation between VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof took a dangerous turn.
During the exchange, VeryDarkMan made explosive allegations against Mr. Jollof’s wife, accusing her of committing adultery with politicians and internet fraudsters, commonly known as Yahoo boys, allegedly to help secure a political appointment in Delta State for her husband.
The allegations, published across VeryDarkMan’s widely followed social media platforms on September 15th, 16th, and in the early hours of September 19th, 2024, reached millions of Nigerians almost instantly.
Mr Jollof responded to the altercation by describing VeryDarkMan as a product of a broken home who was not well-trained, but it was the allegations targeting his wife that would carry far greater consequences.
Refusing to let the matter slide, Mrs. Atsepoyi took legal action, filing a N500 million defamation lawsuit against VeryDarkMan. When the matter came before Justice Harriman, VeryDarkMan was unable to produce any evidence to support his claims, a failure that proved decisive.
In his ruling, Justice Harriman was unambiguous, stating that the words published were “defamatory in their natural and ordinary meaning and actionable per se,” adding that the claimant was entitled to both general and aggravated damages given the wide reach of the defamatory content.
The court awarded Mrs. Atsepoyi “N20 million in general damages” and “N10 million in aggravated damages,” bringing the total to N30 million—significantly less than the amount claimed, but a decisive victory nonetheless.
Beyond the financial penalty, the court issued two further directives. VeryDarkMan has been given a “14-day ultimatum” to publish a formal apology and retraction in two national newspapers and across all his social media handles.
He has also been permanently restrained from making any further defamatory publications against Mrs. Atsepoyi, whether directly or through associates.
This ruling delivers a clear and timely message to Nigeria’s influencer community: a large following offers no legal protection against the consequences of reckless, unsubstantiated claims.
For ordinary Nigerians who have long watched online personalities make damaging allegations without accountability, the verdict is a reassuring reminder that the courts remain a powerful recourse.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
A Delta State Federal High Court has ruled against VeryDarkMan, ordering him to pay N30 million in damages after he publicly accused Mr. Jollof’s wife, Mrs. Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi, of adultery allegations he could not back up with a single piece of evidence in court.
He must also publicly apologize and retract his statements within 14 days and is permanently barred from making further defamatory claims against her.
