Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), through his law firm, Falana & Falana Chambers, has once again showcased his dedication to defending individuals’ rights by offering free legal assistance to social media influencer and blogger, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan. Falana’s intervention secured the bail of the blogger after his arrest for criminal defamation on June 30, 2024, according to reports from SaharaReporters.
VeryDarkMan was arrested on allegations of cyberstalking music producer Samuel Oguachuba, also known as Samklef. The charges stemmed from an Instagram post made by the blogger, which included comments perceived as threatening and intimidating. The post reportedly suggested potential violence or bodily harm toward Samklef, attracting widespread attention online.
Court documents (Case No: FHC/ABJ/CR/149/2024) revealed that the 29-year-old blogger faced charges under Nigeria’s cyberstalking laws. However, Falana & Falana Chambers, known for their commitment to justice, provided their legal expertise pro bono, ensuring VeryDarkMan’s defense without charging him a fee.
The following are the counts charges against VeryDarkMan:
COUNT 1: “That you MARTINS VINCENT OTSE (A.K.A. VERY DARKBLACKMANG ‘M’, 29 YRS of Supreme Court Estate Karu, Abuja, on or about 13th October, 2023 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and intentionally published via a video posted on your Instagram handle ‘verydarkblackman’, (aka verydarkblackman) wherein in the following threatening and bullying words, to harass Mr. Samuel Oguachuba “Davido supposed find am chop him father They supposed catch am chop am. God help you say I no dey, if to say na Nigeria na me for go find you but as no be Nigeria and US no gree give me visa, so I go cool down first…’ the said publication which you know or had reason to believe where meant to threaten and bully or put the said Mr. Samuel Oguachuba in fear of death, violence or bodily harm has been circulated online to many platforms and viewed by many and you thereby committed the offence of Cyberstalking contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (2)(a) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention, etc) ACT, 2015.
COUNT 2: “That you Martins Vincent Otse (A.K.A. VERYDARKBLACKMAN) ‘M’, 29 YRS of Supreme Court Estate Karu, Abuja on or about 29 October, 2023, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and intentionally posted videos, by means of computer system on your Instagram handles ‘verydarkblackman’, which video contained information that is grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character wherein you stated that one lyabo Ojo is having indecent sexual relationship with her daughter knowing or having reasons to believe that the information in the video you posted on your Instagram handle is false and you thereby committed the offence of Cyberstalking contrary to and punishable under section 24 (1)(a) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ACT, 2015.
COUNT 3: “That you Martins Vincent Otse (A.K.A. VERYDARKBLACKMAN) ‘M’, 29 YRS of Supreme Court Estate Karu, Abuja on or about 19th January, 2024, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and intentionally posted videos, by means of computer system on your Instagram handles ‘verydarkblackman’ containing information you know or had reasons believe to be false, wherein in the video you falsely published that King Tonto Dikeh is accused of criminal conversion of the proceeds of crowd funding for Justice for Mohbad Movement, and being the person behind the gistlover blog, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to the person of the said King Tonto Dike and you thereby committed the offence of Cyberstalking contrary to and punishable under section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ACT, 2015.
COUNT 4: “That you Martins Vincent Otse (A.K.A. VERYDARKBLACKMAN) M’, 29 YRS of Supreme Court Estate Karu, Abuja on or about 19% March, 2024, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and intentionally posted videos, by means of computer system on your Instagram handle ‘verydarkblackman containing information which you know or had reasons to believe to be false, wherein you stated the following, ‘I put it to you say the DIGs of the Police dem dey knack Bobrisky. The senators for senate house dey knack Bobrisky…I dare the Nigeria Police, I said what I said, the DIGs are knacking him, the Law makers, the Senate are knacking him in the National Assembly which statement you made for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, injury, criminal intimidation. enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to the persons of the DIGs of the Nigeria Police Force and members of the National Assembly and you thereby committed the offence of Cyberstalking contrary to and punishable under section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ACT 2015.
COUNT 5: “That at you Martins Vincent Otse (A.K.A. VERYDARKBLACKMAN) M’, 29 YRS of Supreme Court Estate Karu, Abuja on or about 19% March, 2024, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and intentionally posted videos, by means of computer system on your Instagram handles ‘verydarkblackman containing information you know or had reasons to believe to be false, wherein you stated that Bobrisky is pimping young boys for Senators and Senior Police Officers to sleep with, which statement you made for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, maury criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to DGs of police and other police officers and Members of the National Assembly and you thereby committed the offence of Cyberstalking contrary to and punishable under section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ACT. 2015.
A source from the law firm told SaharaReporters, “Falana & Falana Chambers have never taken a kobo from VeryDarkMan for any legal assistance. Our firm intervened twice on his behalf, securing his release from police custody and ensuring his bail was perfected—all pro bono.” The source further emphasized, “We are committed to defending the rights of individuals facing legal challenges, especially in cases where freedom of speech is under attack.”
Arrest and Release
The arrest of VeryDarkMan on June 30th caught the attention of many, as police apprehended him for a second case of criminal defamation. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju of Deji Adeyanju & Co., confirmed the arrest, stating that the blogger was detained for exposing a case of fraud involving a Nigerian abroad. However, thanks to the swift intervention of Falana’s team, led by lawyer Marshal Abubakar, VeryDarkMan was released the same day.
Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, Benneth Igwe, confirmed the release, noting that the case was still under investigation.
Background of the Case
The controversy surrounding VeryDarkMan began when he shared an audio recording of Nigerian cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky. In the recording, Bobrisky allegedly confessed to bribing officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with N15 million to avoid a money laundering charge. The audio also contained claims that Bobrisky’s “godfather” and the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, helped her serve a six-month sentence outside of prison.
VeryDarkMan also made allegations against Femi Falana, claiming that the lawyer sought a N10 million bribe for a presidential pardon for Bobrisky. These allegations quickly escalated into a legal confrontation.
Falana, in response, gave the blogger a 24-hour ultimatum to retract the defamatory statements and issue a public apology. In separate letters from the Falanas’ counsel, Taiwo E. Olawanle, the accusations were described as “vicious, wicked, and reckless.” Falana’s son, the musician Folarin Falana, known as Falz, also demanded a retraction of VeryDarkMan’s statements.
VeryDarkMan’s Apology
In a surprising turn of events, VeryDarkMan issued a public apology to Falana while appearing before the Nigerian House of Representatives. He expressed regret over the incident, stating, “Apparently, some people are taking advantage of the situation to target Femi Falana. I apologize. It’s so sad that his name was involved. I couldn’t believe it myself.”
The apology seemed to ease tensions, but the criminal case against VeryDarkMan remains ongoing. The Federal High Court in Abuja is handling the matter, where the Inspector General of Police has presented the charges against him.
Also Read:
- Pastor Muoka Warns Social Media Activist VeryDarkMan Over Criticism of His Church
- Falana Refutes Bribery Allegations Involving Bobrisky
Falana’s Commitment to Justice
Femi Falana’s defense of VeryDarkMan underscores his long-standing commitment to providing legal aid to those in need, regardless of their financial standing. His chambers have earned a reputation for defending individuals’ rights, particularly in cases involving freedom of expression.
Falana’s pro bono services in high-profile cases like this one highlight the importance of protecting free speech in Nigeria, even as the country grapples with complex cybercrime laws.
“We are proud of our work defending those who are unjustly targeted, and we will continue to provide pro bono services where they are needed,” a representative from Falana’s chambers said.
The ongoing court proceedings in Case FHC/ABJ/CR/149/2024 serve as a reminder of the significant legal battles surrounding freedom of speech, cyberstalking, and defamation in Nigeria. However, with legal champions like Femi Falana advocating for justice, individuals like VeryDarkMan can continue to express their views without fear of persecution.