The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, known as Verydarkman, in police custody. The order came after he pleaded not guilty to a five-count cybercrime charge brought by the Nigeria Police Force.
The charges include allegations that Verydarkman posted offensive, pornographic, and menacing content on his Instagram account, ‘verydarkblackman’. One count accuses him of falsely claiming that actress Iyabo Ojo was involved in an indecent sexual relationship with her daughter. Another count involves allegations against actress Tonto Dike, whom he falsely accused of misappropriating funds for the #JusticeforMohbadMovement and being the person behind the gossip blog Gistlover.
Additionally, Verydarkman is accused of claiming in a video that top police officers and Senators were involved in sexual relationships with the now-convicted male cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky. The police argue that these posts were made to cause annoyance, inconvenience, and harm.
Despite pleading not guilty, his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, requested bail, emphasizing his client’s right to presumption of innocence. The police, however, requested time to respond to the bail application, leading the judge to order Verydarkman’s remand in police custody. The court will revisit the matter on May 29.
Previously, Verydarkman was arrested in March on similar allegations but was released on administrative bail following pressure from human rights activists.
