The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded social media influencer and blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman, in police custody after his bail application was opposed by the police. According to police charge sheets, Verydarkman faces five counts of cyberstalking. The case has been adjourned to Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
The police prosecution team told Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court that they needed more time to respond to the application, a request granted by the court. The police sought to have the blogger remanded in prison custody, but his lawyers requested he be kept in police custody instead. The court approved this request, and Verydarkman was taken to the National Cybercrime Centre.
Some of the charges against him include:
- Posting offensive, pornographic, or indecent videos on his Instagram handle, alleging that Iyabo Ojo had an indecent sexual relationship with her daughter, knowing the information was false (contrary to section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015).
- Falsely publishing that King Tonto Dikeh was involved in criminal conversion of funds and was behind the Gistlover blog, causing annoyance and injury (contrary to section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime Act).
- Alleging that high-ranking police officers and senators were involved with Bobrisky in inappropriate conduct, intending to cause annoyance and injury (contrary to section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime Act).
- Claiming that Bobrisky was pimping young boys for senators and senior police officers, with the intention of causing annoyance and injury (contrary to section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime Act).
Recently, Verydarkman condemned the Nigerian police for not arresting cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, criticizing the award given to Bobrisky at a Nollywood event. The Nigeria Police Force stated that they could not arrest Bobrisky as there was no law against cross-dressing in the country and no evidence of same-sex relations.
In April, the police indicated that their case against Verydarkman was ongoing. Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explained on Channels Television’s Politics Today that the delay in Verydarkman’s release from detention was based on a court order. It was reported that Verydarkman was arrested following multiple petitions against his online conduct.