What began as a demand for answers after Mohbad’s death has hardened into a public clash between social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, rapper Zlatan Ibile, and Afrobeats star Davido. Old grievances over silence, politics, and alleged plots have returned to the surface through a chart-topping lyric, a wedding party video, and a studio response that has not yet been released on streaming platforms.
VDM has said the original fracture with both men traces back to the same place. In a video posted on his Instagram on November 6, 2026, he put it plainly:
“One thing that brought us together is the same thing that divided us, right? What is it? Justice for Mohbad.”
He has long criticised Zlatan for remaining largely silent during the early justice campaigns after the singer’s death in September 2023, while the attention around the case was used to push “Account Balance,” the track Zlatan and Mohbad had recorded together. Zlatan has not publicly addressed those specific claims in detail.
With Davido, the relationship looked warmer for a time. VDM has said the singer followed him in 2024 and that the two exchanged messages. He promoted Davido’s music and described the connection as exciting because of the star’s reach. That cooled. VDM has alleged that a WhatsApp group involving people linked to Davido’s circle and other industry figures discussed plans related to his 2024 arrest, which he says was meant to distract from Mohbad questions rather than advance justice. He said he tried to confront Davido about the chats and received no engagement.
A separate political claim has also lingered. In July 2026, VDM said he rejected an offer of N50 million connected to campaigning for Davido’s uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
“Davido and his crew offered me money; when they call me that I should come meet the uncle governor, and promised I’d collect N50 million. Ask what I told them. A lot of people will be happy; you know what N50 million is? I rejected it,” he stated in a video.
He has presented the refusal as proof he could not be bought.
The latest flare came through music. Zlatan’s collaborative track “INFERNO,” featuring Peruzzi and Shoday, climbed to number one on Apple Music Nigeria. A line in it, widely heard as “I am not Vincent, I can’t masturbate” was read by many listeners as a reference to VDM’s first name and earlier public comments he has made about the subject. Zlatan has not confirmed the lyric targets him. VDM treated it as a direct shot. He mocked the timing of Zlatan’s traditional wedding in Lagos on October 24 and the subsequent events, saying in one post:
“Someone who did a whole wedding because he wanted to promote his album; the album did not go viral, nor did the wedding.”
He challenged the song to hold the top spot for a full month.
A video from the welcome party in Morocco pushed the temperature higher. Davido, who had served as a groomsman at the Lagos ceremony, was filmed singing along to the contested lyric. VDM responded in videos and stories, drawing a sharp contrast:
“I am not David Adeleke who begs a woman. I will rather masturbate than kneel down to beg a woman.”
He warned Zlatan, “You will learn the hard way,” and later posted a studio snippet of a track titled “On My Knees,” captioned in a way that referenced Zlatan and promised it was coming soon. The preview, shared on November 4, uses elements of Zlatan’s signature style against the pair. As of the time of reporting, it had not appeared on major streaming platforms.
Zlatan’s public reply was short. On X he wrote:
“You can’t complain about someone giving you a taste of your own medicine when you were the one who prescribed the dose.”
VDM answered that he saw the post as evidence the pain had started, noting that Zlatan had left wedding activities to tweet.
Claims that Davido once paid for VDM’s flights, hotels, or early rise have also resurfaced. On November 4, VDM shared a screenshot of such a claim and replied that if any money, hotel booking, or flight had been covered, the receipts should be produced. He has previously said he paid for his own travel and accommodation on an early trip and that he does not take money in the way some assume. No receipts have been publicly produced by either side.
The exchanges have pulled in others. Streamer Carter Efe has attacked VDM in defence of Davido and Zlatan, including remarks directed at VDM’s mother that prompted warnings and reports of petitions. Social media personality Gehgeh advised Carter Efe against fighting battles that are not his, arguing it is a mistake to insert oneself into conflicts involving more powerful figures. Those side exchanges have not produced confirmed legal outcomes at the time of writing.