Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan on social media, was detained for more than two weeks before being released from custody.
The social media critic was first detained and charged on May 22, 2024, before the Federal High Court in Abuja. He was the target of accusations of cyberstalking and bullying.
In a widely shared video on X Monday, Otse—who has a sizable fan base across social media—was seen being welcomed by his admirers soon after his release.
His incarceration, which had started soon after his arraignment, came to an end at this point.
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Otse entered a not guilty plea to all five counts against him, which included allegations of cyberstalking against the Nigerian police and Nollywood actresses Tonto Dike and Iyabo Ojo.
The case’s consequences for online conduct norms and free expression attracted a lot of attention. Deji Adeyanju, Otse’s attorney, promptly requested bail.
Judge Mobolaji Olajuwon postponed the bail hearing until May 29 after the police prosecution team asked for more time to respond.
Throughout the proceedings, the prosecution had argued that Otse should be detained in prison, but his defence team had successfully argued that he should be remanded at the National Cybercrime Centre under police supervision rather than in jail.
