Cyberbullying Allegations: Social Media Influencer ‘VeryDarkMan’ Re-Arraigned in Abuja Court

Controversial social media personality, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), was re-arraigned on Thursday before a Federal High Court in Abuja over a fresh five-count charge bordering on alleged cyberbullying and defamation of prominent Nigerian celebrities.

The latest charges, brought before Justice Musa Liman, accuse the activist of repeatedly using his platform to disseminate offensive, threatening, and false information targeting Nollywood stars Iyabo Ojo, Tonto Dikeh, and music producer Samuel Oguachuba, also known as Samklef.

VDM, who pleaded not guilty to all five counts, is standing trial for offences said to contravene Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015,

The charges stem from multiple social media posts between October 2023 and March 2024, in which he allegedly published content deemed offensive and injurious to the reputations of the complainants.

In the first count, the prosecution alleges that on or about October 13, 2023, VDM posted a video on his Instagram account (@verydarkblackman), where he made threatening and harassing remarks targeting music producer Samklef.

On October 29, 2023, he is accused in a second count of publishing a defamatory video alleging that Iyabo Ojo was involved in an inappropriate sexual relationship with her daughter — a claim the prosecution describes as “grossly offensive and obscene.”

In the third count, he is said to have published a video on January 19, 2024, in which he falsely claimed that actress Tonto Dikeh misappropriated crowdfunding proceeds intended for the Justice for Mohbad campaign and is the alleged operator of the controversial blog Gistlover.

The fourth count accuses him of publicly ridiculing senior Nigerian law enforcement officers and lawmakers in a March 19 video, describing them with insulting and annoying language. 

VDM was initially arraigned on the same charges on May 22, 2024, before Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon, who was later reassigned to another division. His case was subsequently re-assigned to Justice Liman, necessitating Thursday’s re-arraignment.

He had been remanded in custody until he was granted bail on June 10, 2024, with stringent conditions including a ₦10 million bond and two sureties, either senior federal civil servants or employees of recognized organizations.

At Thursday’s session, VDM’s legal counsel, Deji Adeyanju, pleaded for the continuation of the previously granted bail terms. The prosecution, led by Victor Okoye, did not oppose, and the judge upheld the request.

Justice Liman adjourned the trial to July 24, 2025, for the commencement of substantive hearing.