The court found the statements to be defamatory and damaging to the public image of both Femi Falana and his son. According to the ruling, the social media critic knew the claims were false but published them with the intent to harm their reputations.
“The defamatory statements continue to trend on the defendant’s social media platforms, causing ongoing harm to the applicants’ reputation as long as the publications remain online,” Justice Idowu noted. The court has directed VeryDarkMan to immediately take down the content in question.
Background
Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is a highly respected human rights lawyer in Nigeria with a long history of activism and legal work in the defense of civil liberties.
His son, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, is a well-known rapper, actor, and lawyer who is also recognized for his social and political activism, particularly through his music and public engagements.
The incident in question stems from defamatory comments and videos posted by Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, on his social media accounts.