, was on Thursday, May 15, 2025, re-arraigned by the Nigeria Police Force before the Federal High Court in Abuja on){kind=link}
VeryDarkMan Re-Arraigned for Alleged Cyberbullying of Nollywood Stars and Others
Controversial social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known by his online moniker VeryDarkMan (VDM), was on Thursday, May 15, 2025, re-arraigned by the Nigeria Police Force before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of cyberbullying and online harassment.
VDM appeared before Justice Musa Liman to face a five-count charge relating to alleged acts of cyberbullying, false information dissemination, and character defamation, specifically targeting prominent Nigerian entertainers and public figures. He pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The police accuse VDM of making offensive and defamatory posts directed at Nollywood actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh, as well as music producer and singer Samuel Oguachuba, popularly known as Samklef.
The charges come just days after he was released from detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a separate case involving alleged fraud.
The current charges stem from a previous arraignment on May 22, 2024, before Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon. The case, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2024 and dated March 28, 2024, was reassigned to Justice Liman after Justice Olajuwon was transferred to another division of the Federal High Court.
VDM was initially remanded in custody but was granted bail on June 10, 2024. The bail was set at ₦10 million, with conditions that included the provision of two sureties who must either be senior-level federal civil servants (at least Level 17) or employees of reputable companies, both with valid evidence of three years’ tax clearance.
The five-count charge includes the following allegations:
Count One: That on or about October 13, 2023, VDM posted a video on his Instagram page (@verydarkblackman), which allegedly contained threatening, abusive, and bullying remarks directed at Samuel Oguachuba (Samklef).
Count Two: That around October 29, 2023, he posted videos considered grossly offensive, indecent, and obscene, specifically targeting actress Iyabo Ojo. In one of the videos, he allegedly accused her of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with her daughter.
Count Three: That on January 19, 2024, he knowingly published false information implicating actress Tonto Dikeh in the misappropriation of funds raised for the “Justice for Mohbad” campaign, and alleged she operated the controversial gossip platform Gistlover Blog.
Count Four: That on March 19, 2024, he shared Instagram videos containing derogatory, insulting, and provoking remarks about senior officers in the Nigeria Police Force and members of the National Assembly.
Count Five: (Details of this final count were not provided but are believed to align with the pattern of alleged cybercrimes and violations of the Cybercrime Act.)
The charges are said to contravene provisions of Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, which criminalizes cyberstalking, online harassment, and the dissemination of false or offensive information.
During Thursday’s proceedings, VDM’s legal counsel, Deji Adeyanju, applied for the continuation of the previously granted bail terms. Prosecuting counsel, Victor Okoye, raised no objection, prompting Justice Liman to uphold the existing bail arrangement.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to July 24, 2025, for the commencement of trial.