Court fixes Feb 19 to hear Falanas’ ‘defamation’ suit against VeryDarkMan

An Ikeja high court on Thursday fixed February 19 to hear a preliminary objection filed by VeryDarkMan (VDM), challenging a defamation suit against him.

The human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana filed a defamatory suit against the controversial activist.

VDM had shared a purported audio conversation wherein the crossdresser Bobrisky alleged Falana and Falz contacted her while she was serving a six-month sentence for naira abuse.

However, the crossdresser denied the recording’s authenticity and threatened to sue VeryDarkMan for alleged defamation.

The Falana family also demanded a retraction and apology, threatening legal action.

The activist, however, refused to apologise, arguing that he exposed corruption and did not defame anyone, prompting Falana to proceed with the legal action.

NAN reports that VDM, through his counsel Marvin Omorogbe, filed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the court.

He argued that, under the Lagos state high court (Civil Procedure) Rules of 2019, the court lacked territorial jurisdiction since he is based in Abuja, where the alleged publication originated.

Omorogbe said there was no valid writ of summons before the court and urged the judge to strike out the lawsuit.

When the case was called on Thursday, Omorogbe informed the court that the plaintiffs had filed a counter-affidavit against the preliminary objection.

He said the counter affidavit was made available to him on Wednesday. The defendant’s counsel, therefore, requested additional time to respond.

Omotade Omotunbosun, the plaintiff’s counsel, did not oppose the application for adjournment.

Matthias Dawodu, the presiding judge, thereafter adjourned the case until February 19 for hearing.

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