LAGOS, Nigeria (FN) — Social media personality popularly known as VeryDarkMan, VDM, and also known as Martins Otse, has issued a contrite public apology following an in‑flight confrontation with comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, better known as Mr. Jollof. The altercation, which occurred Monday aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight from Asaba to Lagos, disrupted passengers and drew widespread attention online.
In a video posted Tuesday on Instagram, Otse admitted fault and said he takes “full responsibility” for the incident. He acknowledged that the fight delayed travelers who had urgent commitments, including medical appointments and business engagements.
“I would really like to apologize for what happened yesterday on United Nigeria Airlines,” Otse said. “What happened was not supposed to happen, and I take full responsibility for it.”
Passengers recorded the confrontation, which showed the two men exchanging blows before airline staff intervened. Both were removed from the aircraft, and the flight was delayed while order was restored.
Otse said he regretted the impact on fellow passengers. “Many people on that flight had urgent matters to attend to — some might have had medical emergencies, while others had business contracts to sign,” he said. “I don’t know what that delay may have cost them, and I sincerely apologize.”
He extended his apology broadly, addressing “all the mothers, all the daddies, all the uncles, all the younger ones,” as well as the pilot and crew. He described his behavior as irresponsible and said the confrontation was avoidable.
“Looking back, I really didn’t like that part,” Otse said. “Even though some saw it as a social media spectacle, I acted irresponsibly.”
While apologizing, Otse stopped short of promising such behavior would never recur. He said he could not guarantee it would not happen again but assured Nigerians it would not occur in public spaces that disrupt travel. “I can guarantee that it will not happen on a plane, on a bus, or in any public space that prevents people from reaching their destinations,” he said.
Mr. Jollof, for his part, claimed he acted in self‑defense after being approached aggressively. He also issued an apology to passengers, the airline, and his family, while maintaining that he was provoked.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has requested details of the incident, underscoring the seriousness of disruptions aboard flights. The episode has sparked debate about celebrity accountability and the consequences of misconduct in sensitive environments such as airplanes.
