VeryDarkMan has emerged from a two-year legal battle with the Nigeria Police Force after an Abuja court struck out the criminal case against him over alleged police impersonation.
The case began in October 2024 after Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, appeared in a viral video dressed in an outfit the police said resembled its uniform. He referred to himself as “CSP VeryDarkMan” and described himself as an online police officer. He was subsequently arraigned and granted bail of ₦2 million.
On August 4, the Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja struck out the case. VDM celebrated the decision online, maintaining that the prosecution had failed to provide evidence that he had actually worn a Nigerian Police uniform.
But the timing of the ruling makes the development more significant than simply a legal victory for the controversial activist.
While one case has ended, VDM is now facing a new test involving the same institution he has spent years publicly criticizing.
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that it is investigating allegations VDM made against Assistant Inspector-General of Police Moshood Jimoh. The Force has also invited VDM to appear before the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja to substantiate his claims, while Jimoh has been invited for questioning as part of an administrative review.
That puts VDM in a different position.
For years, his influence has largely come from taking allegations and grievances directly to social media, where videos can generate public pressure within hours. The police are now effectively asking him to take those claims from the court of public opinion into a formal investigative process.
The outcome could have implications for how his activism is perceived.
If VDM produces convincing evidence, the investigation could strengthen his argument that public pressure can force institutions to examine allegations against powerful officials. But if he cannot substantiate serious claims, critics will have more ammunition to argue that his confrontational style sometimes gets ahead of the evidence.
The Police Force has also stressed that allegations against officers should be handled through established complaint mechanisms and warned against unsubstantiated claims, while saying credible misconduct allegations will be investigated regardless of the officer’s rank.
So VDM’s latest victory may actually raise the stakes for his next confrontation with the police.
The uniform case tested whether the police could prove their accusation against him. The Jimoh investigation may now test whether VDM can prove his accusations against the police.
