A tense legal standoff has come to an end as Nollywood icon Mercy Johnson-Okojie officially withdrew her defamation petition against TikTok creator Eedie Bliss. The decision led to Bliss’s release from police custody on Saturday, January 17, 2026, after a week that sparked intense debate across the Nigerian digital space.
The Allegations That Sparked the Arrest
The controversy dates back to late 2025, when Eedie Bliss shared a video containing heavy allegations against Mercy’s husband, Prince Henry Okojie. In the viral clip, Bliss claimed that:
Prince Okojie had purchased a mansion for a pregnant mistress.
Mercy Johnson was allegedly involved in a plot that resulted in the woman suffering a miscarriage.
Citing a gossip blog as her source, Bliss’s video quickly gained traction, prompting a petition from the Okojie family that led to her detention in Abuja.
The Role of Public Backlash and VeryDarkMan
The arrest was met with swift condemnation from various quarters. Popular social media critic VeryDarkMan (VDM) became a central figure in the advocacy for Bliss's release. VDM argued that defamation is a civil matter and should not involve police detention, famously calling out the perceived "oppression" of using law enforcement to settle online disputes.
VDM’s intervention—highlighting that Eedie Bliss was scheduled to be married that same weekend—further fueled the public outcry. Following the release, VDM thanked the actress for her "mercy," urging the public to cease the harassment directed at the Okojie family.
"No Longer Business as Usual"
In a follow-up video shared on Monday, Mercy Johnson explained that she dropped the case primarily out of "love and respect" for the many individuals who reached out to plead on the content creator's behalf. However, she issued a stern warning to future trolls:
"It's no longer going to be business as usual. I have teenagers who are in school being bullied because of the things you write. Court cases are going to be part of my plans because some people just won't leave my family alone."
The incident highlights the growing tension between freedom of expression and the protection of reputation in the digital age.
