- Odibo Victory
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the police impersonation suit against social media influencer and self-acclaimed online police officer, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), on Tuesday.
The development was announced by VDM in a video circulating online.
NPO reported that in 2024, VDM was investigated by the Nigeria Police Force over the alleged unauthorised use of a police uniform.
Reacting to the incident at the time, the Force issued a statement condemning the act, stating that it contravened Section 251 of the Criminal Code Law and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law.
According to VDM, the case has been struck out and he has been discharged.
“The Commissioner of Police versus Martins Vincent Otse case has been struck out and I have been discharged,” he said.
In the video, he maintained that he did not impersonate the police, adding that his manner of dressing and appearance are different from those of a police officer.
“There is no evidence against me that I wore the Nigerian Police uniform, yet they charged me with impersonation.
“And of course, I didn’t impersonate anyone because I never told anybody that I am a Nigerian police officer. Also, police officers don’t wear earrings, nose rings or carry this hairstyle.
“There’s no possible way that I am a police officer,” he said.
VDM also explained what the acronym CSP meant, insisting that it had no connection with the Nigeria Police Force.
“I said I was the CSP, and CSP means Chief Social Media Personnel. And I said that I am online police.
“The Nigerian Police does not have an online division, so I can be an online police officer,” he said.
He further reaffirmed his stance, stating that he is an online police officer and that the outfit he was charged over was simply a black shirt and black trousers.
“I am no longer the CSP now; I have gone higher. I am now the IG of social media.
“I am a social media police officer and the IG of it.
“And then the uniform that they claimed. I did not wear a uniform. I was wearing a black shirt and black trousers, and I told them where I got them from,” he said.