The police on Thursday re-arraigned 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 social activist has also been accused of cyberbullying Nigerian producer and singer Samuel Oguachuba, better known as Samklef, among others.
VDM was arraigned before Justice Musa Liman on a five-count charge and pleaded not guilty.
Remember that VDM was first arraigned on May 22, 2024, before Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon for the same acts, which are illegal and punishable under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015.
On June 10, 2024, he was granted bail of ₦10 million after being held in detention initially. The bail conditions required two sureties to be either employees of a respected company or Level 17 officers in the federal civil service with proof of three years of tax clearance.
The charges, FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2024, dated and filed on March 28, 2024, were reassigned to Justice Liman after Justice Olajuwon was transferred to another division of the Federal High Court.
In the first count, VDM is accused of intentionally posting a video on his Instagram handle (@verydarkblackman) on or around October 13, 2023, that contained threatening and bullying remarks directed at Samuel Oguachuba.
The second count accuses him of purposefully publishing films on or around October 29, 2023, using his Instagram handle that contains extremely offensive, indecent, vulgar, or menacing material regarding Iyabo Ojo.
In the video, VDM allegedly claimed that “one Iyabo Ojo is having an indecent sexual relationship with her daughter.”
In the third count, VDM is accused of knowingly publishing a false statement on January 19, 2024, that “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.”
The fourth count claims that on March 19, 2024, the defendant purposefully posted videos on his Instagram account with rude and unpleasant statements regarding the Deputy Inspectors General of Police and National Assembly members.
Following his re-arraignment before Justice Liman, VDM’s counsel, Deji Adeyanju, asked that his client be permitted to continue on the bail restrictions previously granted by Justice Olajuwon.
Police attorney Victor Okoye did not object to the request.
Justice Liman affirmed the previous bail terms and adjourned the case to July 24, 2025, for trial.
