Court acquits VDM of police impersonation after two years legal battle
Mercy Ajekigbe
The Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has struck out the police impersonation case filed against social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), bringing an end to a two-year legal battle.
The case stemmed from a viral video posted by VDM on October 26, 2024, in which he appeared in an outfit resembling a police uniform. In the video, he introduced himself as “CSP VeryDarkMan” and described himself as “Nigeria’s number one online police,” stating that he was committed to exposing cases of oppression in the country.
Following the video, the influencer was detained after an investigation was launched by the Nigeria Police Force. He was later arraigned on November 1, 2024, and charged with police impersonation, a criminal offence punishable by two to five years in prison. He was then granted bail set at ₦2 million.
In a video on his Instagram page, VDM said that the case had been dismissed, stating that the court had acquitted him after finding no evidence to prove that he wore a Nigerian police uniform.
He said: “My case, the commissioner of police vs Martins Otse, has been struck out and I’ve been discharged. There are no evidence against me that I wore the Nigerian Police uniform…I didn’t wear the uniform; I was putting on a black cloth with designs. And I told them where I got what they called the uniform.”
He also commended the justice system and appreciated his legal team for their handling of the matter.
The video has gained traction across social media platforms, with many of his supporters celebrating the outcome and praising his resilience throughout the legal proceedings.
