Alleged Impersonation: VeryDarkMan docked by police, gets N2m bail

A popular social media activist, Martins Otse, otherwise known as VeryDarkMan, was on Friday, arraigned before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 6, over an allegation that he falsely presented himself as a police officer.

The defendant, who was in the charge marked: CR/510/2024, accused of impersonation and making unauthorized use of the police uniform, pleaded not guilty to the allegation. 

He was subsequently granted bail by the court to the tune of N2million with two sureties in the like sum.

The court maintained that the sureties must not only be resident within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, but must also submit their passports to its registry.

⁠According to the court, the sureties must also provide a means of identification and depose to an affidavit to provide the defendant for his trial, at all times.

It mandated the police which is prosecuting the matter to verify the address of the sureties who were equally directed to provide an evidence of payment of their utility bills.

The defendant was also directed to deposed to an affidavit that he would always make himself available for the trial.

It will be recalled that the VeryDarkMan was detained on Thursday after he honoured an invitation that was extended to him by the police.

The defendant was seen in a video that went viral on various social media platforms, wearing an uniform that was similar to that of the Nigeria Police Force.

He described himself as a CSP of an online division and jokingly urged his fans and followers to always acknowledge him with his new rank instead of referring him as an activist.

However, following an earlier interaction he had with the police which summoned him over the video, the defendant later tendered a public apology for his action.

He explained that he was not aware that it was an offence to wear such uniform without authorization, even as he cautioned other content creators to always obtain necessary clearance from law enforcement agencies before using their uniforms for content purposes.

Meanwhile, not satisfied with the apology, the FCT Police Command, vowed to prosecute him in order to underscore the commitment of the NPF to uphold "the integrity of its symbols and preventing their misuse."