A Nigerian social media critic, Martins Otse, known by his online persona VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been re-arraigned by the police for allegedly cyberbullying several celebrities, including actresses Tonto Dikeh and Iyabo Ojo. The activist is also accused of cyberbullying famous producer and singer Samuel Oguachuba, also known as Samklef, among others.
The re-arraignment took place on Thursday before Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, where VDM faced a five-count charge. Despite the allegations, he pleaded not guilty to the charge. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, requested that the court allow VDM to continue on the earlier bail granted by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of a sister court. The prosecution, led by Counsel to the IGP, Victor Okoye, did not object to this request, and the judge admitted VDM to the earlier bail terms.
The case has been adjourned until July 24 for trial. It is worth noting that VDM was initially arraigned on May 22, 2024, for the same offenses, which are punishable under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015. On June 10, 2024, he was granted a N10 million bail, with the condition that he provides two sureties who must be employees of reputable companies or Level 17 officers in a federal civil service with evidence of three years’ tax clearance.
The allegations against VDM highlight the growing concern about cyberbullying in Nigeria, particularly against public figures. The case is being closely watched, as it may set a precedent for how cyberbullying cases are handled in the country. As the trial approaches, it remains to be seen how the court will rule on the matter and what implications this may have for freedom of speech and online expression in Nigeria.
