Court did not order VDM to pay us N500m – Falz

Court did not order VDM to the Falanas N500 million, Falz has clarified. But the matter is still unresolved as a defamation case is still in court. 

Nigerian rapper, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has clarified recent misunderstandings regarding the legal case against social media influencer Martins Otse, or Verydarkman. He emphasized that contrary to reports, the court did not order VDM to pay any financial settlement.

Falz said, “Now, recently it was reported that the court has ordered N500 million to be paid, blah, blah. I mean, that’s false. The case of defamation is still very much in court. Yes, we have instituted proceedings for defamation because, of course, that is what this is.”

Allegations and their impact

Speaking  The Afro Beat Podcast, Falz expressed his initial unfamiliarity with VDM’s activism. “I don’t know much of it. I’ll be honest with you,” he stated. He recalled seeing some early content about unregulated bleaching products and thought, “This person seems to be doing something right. This is a good cause.”

However, problem started when VDM made some comments, after posting an audio allegedly featuring  Bobrisky’s voice. Falz and his father, Femi Falana, SAN, felt they were defamed. Falz said the comment suggesting he might have had a homosexual relationship with Bobrisky, questioned his credibility as an activist.

He reacted strongly to such insinuation.  “How would anyone feel? These are horrible things to say. Absolutely no proof.” He criticized VDM for making baseless claims without any supporting evidence.

“All these things are false, basically,” Falz asserted. He added, “He who alleges must prove. I’ve gone to court for defamation of character because that’s clearly what this is.”

Though court did not order VDM to pay, ‘we’re still in court’

Falz explained, “The case of defamation is still very much in court.” He confirmed that they have filed proceedings for defamation against Verydarkman.

“There’s something called interim applications… You can apply to the court for an injunction because this defamation still subsists,” Falz elaborated. He noted that Verydarkman’s defamatory video remains accessible online, stating, “This video I speak of is still very much on his page.”

He concluded by stating, “The ruling that the court gave was to take this down and desist from any further defamatory remarks pending the determination of this substantive suit.” The case continues, with Falz determined to see it through.