A Federal High Court sitting in Effurun, Delta State, has ordered Nigerian social media influencer, VeryDarkMan, to pay N30 million in damages for defaming Mrs. Esinjemiyotan Atsepoyi, the wife of comedian Mr. Jollof.
The judgment was delivered on May 13, 2026, by Justice R. Harriman, who ruled that the influencer failed to prove the allegations he made against the claimant during a social media dispute.
According to the court, the statements made by VeryDarkMan were defamatory and damaging to the reputation of Mrs. Atsepoyi. The judge held that the comments were serious enough to attract both general and aggravated damages.
Justice Harriman said the court had no difficulty concluding that the online remarks were harmful in their ordinary meaning and therefore legally actionable. He added that the claimant deserved compensation and protection from further attacks.
The court awarded N20 million as general damages and another N10 million as aggravated damages, bringing the total compensation to N30 million.
The judge also ordered VeryDarkMan to publish a public apology and retraction in two national newspapers as well as on all his social media platforms within 14 days of the judgment.
In addition, the court restrained the influencer, his associates, or anyone acting on his behalf from making any further defamatory statements against Mrs. Atsepoyi.
The case arose from an online clash between VeryDarkMan and Mr. Jollof in September 2024. During the heated exchange, the influencer allegedly accused Mr. Jollof’s wife of having inappropriate relationships with politicians and internet fraudsters to help her husband secure a political appointment in Delta State.
The court ruled that the allegations were not supported with evidence and that the wide circulation of the claims online justified the financial penalty and apology order aimed at restoring the claimant’s reputation.
