Controversial social media critic Martin Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, has been released after spending over two weeks in detention.
Otse was initially set to be released one week after his arraignment on May 22, 2024, for charges of cyberstalking and bullying. A viral video on X shows VeryDarkMan walking among his supporters following his release on Monday.
Otse had been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja, facing five counts of cyberstalking related to the Nigeria police and Nollywood actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dike. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, applied for bail, but the police prosecution team requested more time to respond, prompting Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon to adjourn the bail hearing to May 29. The prosecution sought to have Otse remanded in prison, but his lawyers successfully argued for him to be held in police custody instead.
The court granted this request, and VeryDarkMan was subsequently taken to the National Cybercrime Centre.
