A Federal High Court sitting in Effurun, Delta State, has ordered popular Nigerian social media personality, VeryDarkMan, to pay N30 million in damages to Mrs Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi, the wife of comedian Mr Jollof, over defamatory statements made against her online.
The controversy began in September 2024 during an online altercation between VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof, during which the social media critic allegedly accused Mrs Atsepoyi of engaging in adultery with politicians and internet fraudsters, commonly referred to as Yahoo boys, to help her husband secure a political appointment in Delta State.
Reacting at the time, Mr Jollof described VeryDarkMan as a product of a broken home and said he lacked proper upbringing.
Following the allegations, Mrs Esinjemiyotan Uruneyonjuyei Atsepoyi instituted a N500 million defamation suit against VeryDarkMan.
In a court document signed by Hon. Justice R. Harriman on May 13, 2026, and obtained by NOVA NEWS, the court ruled that the defendant failed to provide evidence to substantiate the allegations and consequently awarded damages against him.
Justice Harriman ordered VeryDarkMan to pay N20 million as general damages and an additional N10 million as aggravated damages, bringing the total compensation to N30 million.
The court also directed the defendant to publish an apology and retraction in two national newspapers and across all his social media platforms within 14 days of the judgment.
In the ruling, Justice Harriman held that the statements made against the claimant were defamatory in their natural and ordinary meaning.
“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,” the judge ruled.
The court further stated that the claimant was entitled to damages and injunctive relief due to the wide circulation of the defamatory publication.
“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,” the judge said.
The court also restrained VeryDarkMan, his agents, or associates from making further defamatory publications against Mrs Atsepoyi.
