VeryDarkMan to Appear in Court today over Alleged Police Impersonation, Unauthorized use of Uniform 

Nigerian social media influencer and blogger Martins Otse, popularly known online as VeryDarkMan (VDM), is scheduled to appear in court today in Abuja following his recent arrest on charges of impersonation and unauthorized use of a police uniform.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) announced VDM’s court appearance in a Friday statement titled, “Impersonation: VDM To Appear In Court Today, FCT Command Leading Prosecution.” According to the statement, Otse is facing prosecution led by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command over a viral video in which he allegedly appeared in a police uniform, claiming to be a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) in a fictional “online division.”

In the statement, the police underscored the importance of safeguarding the integrity of its symbols, emphasizing that misuse of police uniforms or insignia without authorization is a serious offense. “The FCT Police Command is actively handling the case,” the NPF said, adding that it was committed to ensuring accountability when it comes to the public portrayal of police imagery and credentials.

Otse was initially detained on Thursday evening after honoring a police invitation, according to his legal representative, Deji Adeyanju. Adeyanju confirmed in a social media post that his client had also responded to a similar police request on Wednesday. “Our client, VDM, has been detained after honouring a police invitation just like yesterday,” Adeyanju wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “VDM has been consistent in stating that the Nigerian Police are our friends, even when we all know they are not.”

On Wednesday, VDM had released a public apology video on his X account, acknowledging that he was unaware of the need for police clearance before using uniforms in his videos. He advised other creators to obtain the required permissions for content involving official uniforms to avoid similar issues.

This case is part of a broader crackdown by the Nigeria Police Force on the misuse of police symbols in media and entertainment. Last year, the NPF issued a statement warning against unauthorized portrayals by skit makers, movie producers, and other content creators, reminding the public that such acts are criminal offenses.