Popular Nigerian media personality, Chinedu Ani Emmanuel, widely known as Nedu Wazobia, has taken legal action against social media commentator VeryDarkMan (Martins Vincent Otse) over alleged defamatory statements.
On Tuesday, February 24, 2025, Nedu, through his legal representatives, issued a formal notice to VDM, demanding a public retraction, an apology, and a ₦500 million compensation for reputational damage.
The Allegations and Legal Claims
The dispute stems from a video posted by VDM on February 19, 2025, in which he accused Nedu of diverting scholarship funds meant for Nigerians through the Metropolitan School of Business and Management UK (MSBM). The video, uploaded to YouTube and Instagram under the title “How Nedu Diverted NGO Scholarship Meant for Nigerians”, was described by Nedu’s lawyers as “a host of defamatory, false, and disparaging attacks.”
In their letter, the legal team argued that VDM attempted to “circumvent the law” by deliberately spelling fraud as “fr@vd.” They further emphasized that the MSBM case had already been investigated by the relevant authorities, who found no evidence to support the claims.
Clarifications from Nedu’s Camp
Nedu’s lawyers clarified that:
- The Nedu Foundation was established to raise funds for students to gain admission into MSBM, but Nedu himself was never involved in managing or receiving those funds.
- Nedu was not paid for his role in promoting the charity or organizing the event.
- Contrary to VDM’s claim, Nedu is not the owner of Tokindrumz Picture and Media Ltd but is merely signed under the brand.
Demands and Legal Consequences
In response to the alleged defamation, Nedu’s legal team has issued the following demands:
- The immediate removal of all videos related to Nedu from VDM’s platforms within 24 hours of receiving the notice.
- A public apology published across all of VDM’s social media accounts.
- A sum of ₦500 million in damages for harm caused to Nedu’s reputation.
Failure to comply, they warned, would result in legal action.
With tensions running high, this legal challenge may set a precedent for social media accountability in Nigeria’s entertainment and media landscape. Whether VDM will retract his statements or face legal consequences remains to be seen.
