Martin Otse, who is popularly known as VeryDarkMan on social media, has been released from police custody after spending over two weeks detained. The social media critic, who was accused of cyberstalking and bullying, was initially arrested and brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja on May 22, 2024.
After his release, a viral video showed Otse being greeted by supporters, marking the end of his detention, which began shortly after his arraignment. He faced five counts related to allegations of cyberstalking against the Nigeria Police Force and Nollywood actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dike. Otse pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The case gained widespread attention due to its potential impact on free speech and the boundaries of online behavior. Otse’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, promptly applied for bail. However, the police prosecution team requested more time to respond, leading Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon to adjourn the bail hearing until May 29.
During the proceedings, the prosecution argued for Otse to be held in prison custody, but his defense team successfully advocated for his remand at the National Cybercrime Centre under police supervision, rather than in prison.
