Federal High Court Grants Bail to Social Media Critic Accused of Impersonation
Yesterday, a Federal High Court granted bail to social media enthusiast, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), after his arraignment on charges of impersonation. As part of the bail conditions, VDM was required to post a bond of 2 million naira, with two sureties providing equal amounts.
The sureties were also mandated to provide proof of ownership of a valid international passport and another form of identification. Additionally, the court instructed VDM to surrender his international passport and all other identification documents.
The court’s decision followed the release of a viral video in which VDM appeared in a police uniform, an action that drew the ire of the Nigeria Police Force. In the video, VDM referred to himself as “CSP VeryDarkMan” and Nigeria’s “number one online police officer,” sparking widespread criticism.
The police authorities launched an investigation into the matter and thereafter arraigned VDM in court for impersonation. The case highlights the severity of the issue and the need for measures to prevent the misrepresentation or misuse of official identities.
A statement released by VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, outlined the bail conditions, which include:
“The defendant (VDM) shall produce two sureties each of whom shall produce a clean bill of health from a government recognized hospital; the sureties shall provide evidence of evidence of means of livelihood; the sureties shall produce an Affidavit in support of the averment that the defendant will produce himself at all times to the court and the surety must be within the jurisdiction of the court with the address in the agreed location, specifically Abuja Municipal.” Key conditions also included providing proof of utility bills and verification of the sureties’ addresses.
