 on Thursday re-arraigned Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), a controversial social media influencer, on charges of cyberbullying several Nigerian celebrities including actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh.){kind=link}
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on Thursday re-arraigned Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), a controversial social media influencer, on charges of cyberbullying several Nigerian celebrities including actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh.
VDM is also accused of targeting renowned Nigerian music producer and singer Samuel Oguachuba, popularly called Samklef, among others, with offensive online content.
The re-arraignment took place before Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where VDM faced a five-count charge. He pleaded not guilty to all allegations.
VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, requested that the court allow his client to remain on the bail previously granted by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of a sister court.
The prosecution counsel representing the IGP, Victor Okoye, did not oppose the request. Consequently, Justice Liman confirmed the earlier bail conditions and adjourned the trial to July 24.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), VDM was first arraigned on May 22, 2024, before Justice Olajuwon on similar charges under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
He was granted bail of ₦10 million on June 10, 2024, with two sureties who must be reputable company employees or federal civil servants at Level 17 or above, with proof of tax clearance for the last three years.
The original case file, numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2024 and dated March 28, 2024, was reassigned to Justice Liman following the transfer of Justice Olajuwon to another division of the Federal High Court.
Among the charges, count one alleges that on or around October 13, 2023, VDM posted a video on his Instagram account ‘verydarkblackman’ containing threatening and bullying remarks directed at Samuel Oguachuba.
Count two accuses him of posting offensive, obscene, and menacing content about Iyabo Ojo on October 29, 2023.
The video allegedly claimed that Ojo was involved in an inappropriate sexual relationship with her daughter.
In count three, VDM is said to have, on January 19, 2024, published videos accusing Tonto Dikeh of criminally misappropriating funds raised for the Justice for Mobbad Movement and being behind the controversial Gistlover blog.
Count four alleges that on March 19, 2024, VDM posted videos insulting and annoying Deputy Inspector-Generals of Police and members of the National Assembly.