Police drag VeryDarkMan to court for impersonation

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has brought social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to court for impersonation.

This follows the release of a video in which Otse donned a police uniform and portrayed himself as a “social media police” in October. He is expected to appear in court today.

The police stated, “VDM, whose real name is Mr Martins Otse, is set to appear in court today following allegations of impersonation related to the unauthorised use of Nigeria Police Force uniforms in a viral social media video.”

The FCT Police Command emphasised its commitment to maintaining the integrity of police symbols and preventing their misuse.

Otse’s video prompted a swift condemnation from the police, who reiterated the seriousness of the offence. “The unauthorized use of Police uniforms, insignia, or accoutrements constitutes a criminal offence, as stipulated in Section 251 of the Criminal Code Law and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law, and is subject to strict penalties,” the police stated in an October 26 message on X.

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This incident mirrors a similar case involving another influencer, Abdulgafar Abiola (TheCuteAbiola), who faced legal consequences for using police uniforms in a skit in July 2023. The police have consistently invoked Sections 251 and 133 in such cases.

The legal framework outlines that anyone who wears public servant attire without authorization, intending to mislead others about their identity, can face up to six months in prison or a fine of 10,000 Naira under the Penal Code. The Criminal Code also prohibits the misuse of military or police uniforms, with penalties for actions that bring contempt upon them.

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