Rivers Lawyers Give VeryDarkMan 7 Days To Apologise Over Jordan Wike Defamation Allegations
The Abuja-Based Rivers Lawyers Association (ABRLA) has given social media personality, Martin Vincent Etse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, seven days to withdraw alleged defamatory publications against its member, Jordan Wike, Esq., and issue a public apology.
The association accused VeryDarkMan of making allegations linking Wike to an alleged $2.1 million fraud involving land acquisition and purported lobbying activities in the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by C. Njoku and P. L. Osakwe on behalf of the association, ABRLA said a video allegedly published on October 21 contained statements capable of damaging Wike’s professional reputation.
The lawyers particularly disputed claims that Wike was involved in fraud, had received $2.1 million and handed the money to his father, or was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections.
According to the association, Wike neither indicated interest in nor contested the APC primary for the constituency, adding that Hon. Martins Amaewhule was the party’s candidate.
ABRLA also rejected the description of its member as a thief or fraudster, stressing that no court of competent jurisdiction had convicted him of such offences.
“The pendency of a suit against someone does not cumulate to a final conviction,” the association stated, warning against the public trial of matters already before the courts.
It argued that although freedom of expression was constitutionally protected, it did not grant anyone an unrestricted right to publish allegations capable of damaging another person’s reputation.
The association consequently demanded the removal of the video and related publications from Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms. It also urged VeryDarkMan to refrain from republishing similar allegations.
ABRLA warned that failure to issue an unequivocal and unreserved public apology within seven days would compel it to take legal action to protect its member’s rights.
