Court Grants Bail To Social Media Critic ‘VeryDarkMan’ In Impersonation Case

A Federal High Court on Friday granted bail to social media critic, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), after his arraignment on charges of impersonation.

VeryDarkman was granted bail set at N2 million with two sureties, each required to post an equivalent amount. Additionally, the court ordered him to surrender his international passport and any other form of identification.

His arraignment followed the release of a viral video where he appeared in a police uniform, a move the Nigeria Police Force condemned as unauthorized.

Police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, previously stated that an investigation had been launched into the video, which featured VDM referring to himself as “CSP VeryDarkMan” and Nigeria’s “number one online police officer.”

The police’s formal objection to the use of official uniforms and insignia without authorization highlights the seriousness of the case, and the court’s conditions aim to restrict further actions that could misrepresent or misuse official identities.

The bail terms released by VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, reads, “Two million, two sureties in like terms. Sureties to deposit international passports, sureties to provide means of Identification. Sureties to depose to affidavit to provide the defendant during trial at all times.

“⁠Prosecutor to verify sureties’ address. Sureties to provide utility bills, defendant to depose to affidavit to be available at all times during trial. Sureties to reside within the Court’s jurisdiction, particularly Abuja municipal.”