The Abuja Based Rivers Lawyers Association, ABRLA, has condemned in strong terms a widely circulated video by social media influencer, Martin Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, against its member, Mr. Jordan Wike, Esq., over what it described as defamatory and false allegations.
In a press release dated October 24, 2026, jointly signed by C. Njoku, Esq. and P. L. Osakwe Esq. for the Association, ABRLA said the attention of the association was drawn to the video published on or about October 21, 2026.
The association stated: “In the said video, which has reportedly garnered over millions of views and numerous comments on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other social media platforms, the said VeryDarkMan referred to our member as a ‘thief’ and accused him of involvement in an alleged $2.1 million US Dollars fraud relating to land acquisition and purported lobbying activities in the United Kingdom.”
ABRLA further quoted VeryDarkMan as erroneously alleging that Jordan Wike is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency. The group said: “The said VeryDarkMan further erroneously alleged that our member is the Candidate of the All Progressive Congress for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Rivers State in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections scheduled to hold on the 16th January, 2027, which is not only a misrepresentation of facts but also an attempt to further expose our member to public ridicule, hatred and abuse.”
According to the lawyers, VeryDarkMan also claimed that Jordan Wike admitted receiving the money and giving it to his father.
“He further alleged that our member had admitted to have received the sum of money in question and handed same over to his father. This allegation is not only misleading but unfounded,” ABRLA stated.
The group added that the influencer went further to mock their member by calling him “Jordan Wicked” instead of Jordan Wike.
Condemning the publication, the Association said: “The afore-stated grave allegations which, by their very nature, are capable of exposing our member to public ridicule, contempt and reputational injury, particularly in view of his standing as a legal practitioner.”
ABRLA said while it would have ordinarily refrained from commenting on a matter that is sub judice, it was forced to speak because of the gravity and reach of the publication.
Setting the records straight, the association declared: “For the records, our member is not a thief or fraudster as falsely represented by the said VeryDarkMan. No Court of competent jurisdiction both in Nigeria and outside Nigeria has pronounced him as such. The pendency of a suit against someone does not cumulate to a final conviction.”
It also clarified: “Our member never admitted or acknowledged receiving the sum of 2.1 Million US Dollars from anybody neither did he admit giving the said sum to his father.”
On the political allegation, the lawyers stated categorically: “Again, our member is not the Candidate of the All Progressive Congress for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Rivers State in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections. He never indicated interest nor contested in the Primary Election of the All Progressive Congress. It is on record that the candidate of the All Progressive Congress for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Rivers State in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections is no other person than Hon. Martins Amaewhule.”
The group emphasized that his name remains Jordan Wike, Esq. and not Jordan Wicked.
ABRLA warned that freedom of speech is not absolute, stating: “Freedom of expression, while constitutionally protected, does not confer an unrestricted licence to publish defamatory statements or to present allegations of criminal wrongdoing as established facts without a proper evidential basis. Where a publication unlawfully injures another person’s reputation, the law provides remedies to the person aggrieved.”
The Association then issued four demands, including that VeryDarkMan should “immediately retract and withdraw the video and all associated publications,” “cease and desist from any further publication,” and “within seven days, issue a clear, unequivocal and unreserved public apology to our member, Mr. Jordan Wike, Esq., acknowledging the injury occasioned by the alleged defamatory publication.”
It warned: “Take notice that failure to yield to our above modest demands and any further attempt to make false allegations capable of defaming the person of our member, Mr. Jordan Wike, Esq reasonable steps shall be taken for and on behalf our member to ventilate his rights.”
