Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, also known as Verydarkman, in police custody.

This decision came after Otse pleaded not guilty to five counts of cybercrime charged against him by the Nigeria Police Force.

One of the charges involves Otse posting videos on Instagram that the police described as “grossly offensive, pornographic, or of an indecent, obscene, or menacing character.” In particular, Otse allegedly posted false information claiming that Iyabo Ojo was involved in an indecent sexual relationship with her daughter.

Additionally, the police accused Otse of falsely claiming in another video that actress Tonto Dike was involved in criminal conversion of crowdfunding proceeds for the #JusticeforMohbadMovement and that she was behind the gossip blog Gistlover. The police asserted that Otse made these statements to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will, or needless anxiety to Dike.

The prosecution further alleged that Otse falsely claimed in another video that top police officers and Senators were having sexual relationships with convicted cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, and that Bobrisky was pimping young boys for them.

The defendant’s actions are considered cyberstalking, an offense under section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015. Otse pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Otse’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, requested his release on bail, highlighting that the charges are bailable and that Otse should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The police, however, requested more time to respond to the bail application. The court adjourned the case until Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

Verydarkman had previously been arrested and detained in March over the same allegations but was released on administrative bail.