Court Grants Social Media Influencer VeryDarkMan Bail Amid Impersonation Charges.
The Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has granted N2 million bail to popular social media critic Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, who faced charges for allegedly wearing a police uniform without authorisation. Otse appeared before the court on Friday at Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Wuse Zone 6, Federal Capital Territory, following his arrest after a viral video showed him dressed in a police uniform, where he identified himself as a “CSP of an online division.”
Otse’s bail terms, shared by his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, include stringent conditions: two sureties, each required to deposit their international passports and provide proof of identification and utility bills. The sureties must also reside within the court’s jurisdiction and will be required to submit an affidavit affirming their commitment to ensuring Otse’s availability for all trial proceedings.
Adeyanju further explained that the court ordered the prosecution to verify the sureties’ addresses to ensure their compliance with court requirements. Otse himself must also depose to an affidavit confirming his presence throughout the trial.
The case against Otse followed a video apology posted on his social media pages, in which he expressed regret for unknowingly breaching protocol by wearing a police uniform. He cautioned fellow content creators on the importance of obtaining official clearance before using such attire for videos or other creative content.
Adeyanju reported that despite Otse’s apology, he was detained after appearing in response to a police invitation on Thursday, marking his second police summons within two days. Otse, known for his critical views on social issues, maintains his stance of considering the police as allies despite recent tensions, encouraging his audience to engage constructively with law enforcement.
The case is set to resume, as the court closely monitors the terms of Otse’s bail and his continued cooperation during the legal proceedings.
