JUST IN: Social Media Influencer Verydarkman Remanded by Federal High Court
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of social media influencer and blogger Martins Vincent Otse, known online as Verydarkman, following the police’s challenge to his bail application.
On Wednesday, Platinum Times Nigeria accessed the police charge sheets revealing that Verydarkman faces five counts of cyberstalking. The hearing has been postponed to next Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
The police prosecution team informed Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court that additional time was required to respond to the application, a request which the court granted. While the prosecution sought to have Verydarkman remanded in prison, his legal team requested he be kept in police custody, which the court approved, leading to his transfer to the National Cybercrime Centre.
The charges include:
– Posting offensive, pornographic, or indecent content about Iyabo Ojo on Instagram, allegedly knowing the information was false, violating section 24 (1)(a) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015.
– Falsely accusing King Tonto Dikeh of criminal activities related to crowd-funding and associating her with the gistlover blog, intending to cause distress, in breach of section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015.
– Alleging misconduct involving senior police officers and senators with Bobrisky, with intent to cause annoyance and distress, under section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015.
– Claiming Bobrisky is involved in illegal activities, similarly intended to cause distress, also under section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015.
Recently, Verydarkman criticized the Nigerian police for not arresting the controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, following his recognition as Best Dressed Female at a Nollywood event. The police responded that no laws were broken regarding cross-dressing or same-sex relations.
In April, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, indicated on Channels Television’s Politics Today that the case against Verydarkman was ongoing, and his delayed release was court-ordered. Platinum Times Nigeria previously reported that Verydarkman was detained following multiple complaints about his online conduct.
