The Police on Thursday re-arraigned controversial social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), before a Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly cyberbullying Nollywood actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh. The influencer is also accused of targeting Nigerian producer and singer Samuel Oguachuba, known as Samklef, among others.
VDM was arraigned before Justice Musa Liman on a five-count charge, to which he pleaded not guilty. The charges are in violation of Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015. This re-arraignment follows an initial arraignment on May 22, 2024, before Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon.
The defendant was initially remanded in custody but was later granted bail on June 10, 2024. The bail, set at ₦10 million, required two sureties who must either be reputable company employees or Level 17 officers in the federal civil service with proof of three years’ tax clearance. The case was reassigned to Justice Liman after Justice Olajuwon was transferred to another division.
In the first count, VDM is accused of publishing a video on Instagram (@verydarkblackman) on or about October 13, 2023, containing threatening and bullying remarks directed at Samklef. The second count alleges that on October 29, 2023, VDM posted videos containing offensive claims against Iyabo Ojo, including an allegation of “having an indecent sexual relationship with her daughter.”
The third count accuses him of publishing a false claim on January 19, 2024, stating, “King Tonto Dikeh is involved in the criminal conversion of the proceeds from the crowdfunding for the Justice for Mobbad Movement and is the person behind the Gistlover blog.” In the fourth count, VDM is alleged to have posted videos on March 19, 2024, containing insulting remarks about Deputy Inspectors General of Police and lawmakers in the National Assembly.
Following his re-arraignment, VDM’s counsel, Deji Adeyanju, requested that his client remain on the previously granted bail terms, a request that Police counsel Victor Okoye did not oppose. Justice Liman upheld the bail terms and adjourned the case to July 24, 2025, for trial.
