A defamation case filed against social media personality, Martins Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman, has been struck out by the Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
Presiding Judge, Justice Matthias Idowu, delivered the ruling during the defendant’s re-arraignment on Tuesday.
He noted that the substantive case brought by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, and his son, musician and actor Folarin Falana (widely known as Falz), is already before another court.
As a result, he determined that the defendant’s trial at the High Court was unnecessary.
The claimants had sought N500 million in damages, alleging that a video posted by Verydarkman on social media, along with an audio recording by cross-dresser Idris Okuneye (popularly known as Bobrisky), contained defamatory content and accused the Falanas of obstructing justice.
During the proceedings, the litigants were not present in court. Counsel to the defendant, Niyi Alagbe, referred to an earlier application for a stay of proceedings, which was acknowledged by the Falanas’ counsel, Omotayo Olatunbosun.
However, Olatunbosun urged the court to continue with the matter.
Justice Idowu, however, stated that the application was not reflected in the case file before the court.
He maintained that proceeding with the matter would serve no legal purpose, given that the substantive suit is currently being heard by another judge.
“Consequently, this suit is hereby struck out,” the judge ruled.
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