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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, re-arraigned Martins Otse, the controversial social media influencer, popularly known as VeryDarkMan for allegedly cyberbullying Nollywood actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh.
VeryDarkMan was also alleged to have cyberbullied famous Nigerian producer and singer, Samuel Oguachuba, fondly called Samklef, among others.
He was re-arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on five-count charge.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, prayed the court to allow VeryDarkMan to continue on the earlier bail granted by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of a sister court.
The IGP’s counsel, Victor Okoye, did not object as the presiding judge, Justice Musa Liman, admitted VeryDarkMan to the earlier bail terms and adjourned the matter until July 24 for trial.
VDM was on May 22, 2024, arraigned before Justice Olajuwon on same offences, contrary to and punishable under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.
He was remanded and granted a N10 million bail on June 10 by the judge with two sureties who must be employee of reputable company or Level 17 officers in a federal civil service with evidence of three years’ tax clearance.
The charge was however re-assigned to Justice Liman, following Justice Olajuwon’s transfer to another division of the Federal High Court.
In count one, VeryDarkMan was alleged to have in October 2023 intentionally published via a video posted on his Instagram handle threatening and bullying words, to harass Samklef.
In count two, he was alleged to have intentionally posted videos, by means of computer system on his Instagram handles which contained information that was grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character against Iyabo Ojo.
In the video, he was alleged to have stated that “Iyabo Ojo is having indecent sexual relationship with her daughter.”
VeryDarkMan was also accused of posting videos on his Instagram account where he “falsely published that King Tonto Dikeh is accused of criminal conversion of the proceeds of crowd funding for Justice for Mobbad Movement, and being the person behind the gistlover blog.”
In count four, the defendant was alleged to have intentionally posted videos on his Instagram handle against the Deputy Inspector Generals of Police and lawmakers in the National Assembly considered to be annoying and insulting.
