The Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has granted detained social media critic, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan N2m bail after he appeared in court on Thursday for adorning himself in police uniforms.
The FCT Police Command had in a release on X on Friday, said it was spearheading the prosecution.
The charges were from a recent viral video in which VeryDarkMan was seen in Nigeria Police Force uniforms “without authorisation.”
According to the police, his arraignment emphasised the force’s stance on maintaining the integrity of its uniforms and preventing unauthorised usage.
The NPF’s statement read, “Martins Otse, is set to appear in court today following allegations of impersonation related to the unauthorised use of Nigeria Police Force uniforms in a viral social media video.”
“The FCT Police Command is actively handling the case, underscoring the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to upholding the integrity of its symbols and preventing their misuse.
“Interested persons are encouraged to follow up on the proceedings as the case unfolds.”
NPF had condemned VeryDarkMan in the recently released video, where he described himself as CSP VeryDarkMan and Nigeria’s “number one online police officer”
However, the counsel to VeryDarkMan, Deji Ayedanju said the court had granted VDM bail, and ruled that the sureties are to provide means of identification and depose to affidavit to provide the defendant during trial at all times.
He added that the court ordered that the prosecutor should verify the sureties’ addresses while the sureties will also provide their utility bills.
He said, “Two million, two sureties in like terms. Sureties to deposit international passports, sureties to provide means of Identification. Sureties to depose to an 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.”