How Renowned Lawyer Falana's Free Legal Aid Saved Blogger VeryDarkMan From Criminal Defamation Charges Revealed

Renowned lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) through Falana & Falana Chambers, secured bail for social media influencer and blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, following his arrest on June 30, 2024, SaharaReporters has learnt.

The chambers provided pro bono legal services in the case against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, which demonstrated their commitment to defending the rights of individuals facing legal challenges.

VeryDarkMan was arrested for alleged criminal defamation stemming from a social media post.

According to court documents regarding the case (Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/149/2024), the 29-year-old is accused of cyberstalking Samuel Oguachuba, best known as Samklef, by posting threatening comments on his Instagram handle, which were widely viewed and circulated online.

The post reportedly included intimidating remarks that could instill fear of violence or bodily harm on Oguachuba.

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A source from the Femi & Falana Chambers told SaharaReporters that the firm has never charged VeryDarkMan for their legal assistance, having expended resources to ensure his defence.

The source added that the law firm has intervened on behalf of VeryDarkMan on two occasions without collecting a dime from him, reaffirming its commitment to providing pro bono legal support to those in need.

“Marshal Abubakar of Falana & Falana’s Chambers led Deji Adeyanju of Deji Adeyanju & Co. in Vincent Otse's criminal trial in charge no FHC/ABJ/CR/149/2024 between IGP and Martin Vincent Otse. Falana helped to secure and perfect his bail pro bono,” the source said.

“On Sunday, June 30, 2024, Vincent Otse was arrested again over another case of criminal defamation and our firm was actively involved in securing his release from police custody pro bono. Our firm has never charged nor taken a kobo from the defendant for any of these cases but have expended resources for his assistance pro bono.”

Regarding the June 30 arrest, SaharaReporters had reported how the police arrested the blogger and released him later that day.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Mr Benneth Igwe, had confirmed his release that evening.

His lawyer, Mr Adeyanju, earlier disclosed that his client had again been arrested, adding that VeryDarkMan was apprehended for exposing someone who allegedly duped a Nigerian abroad.

BACKGROUND

There is an ongoing controversy stemming from an audio of cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, shared online by VeryDarkMan in which Bobrisky confessed to serving his jail term outside the prison facility.

In the audio, Bobrisky claimed she bribed some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials with N15 million to drop the money laundering charge against her.

The crossdresser also claimed that her ‘godfather,’ alongside the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, ensured she served her six-month sentence for abusing the naira in a private apartment and not in prison.

VeryDarkMan also alleged that Falana sought a presidential pardon for Bobrisky in exchange for N10 million.

The recent spate of allegations levelled accusations of bribery and corruption against Falana and his musician son, Folarin Falana, better known as Falz.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria had swiftly given VeryDarkMan 24 hours to “retract his offensive and derogatory publication,” against him and issue a public apology while Falz, in a separate letter, also demanded the same things.

In separate letters from the Falanas’ counsel, Taiwo E. Olawanle, VeryDarkMan was given 24 hours to retract his statements and issue a public apology.

Olawanle characterised VeryDarkMan's statements as "a vicious, wicked, and reckless ploy" designed to tarnish Falana's reputation among the public.

However, VeryDarkMan recently tendered an apology to Falana when he appeared before the Nigerian House of Representatives.

He said, “Apparently, now, some people are taking advantage of what is going to target Femi Falana.

“Here, I apologise. It’s so sad that his name was inside that audio. I couldn’t believe as well; that is the part that irritated me more when I said I refuse to believe that he is a party to something like that.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the court proceedings for Case FHC/ABJ/CR/149/2024 against VeryDarkMan in which Falana intervened through one of his chambers’ lawyers, Marshal Abubakar, took place at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the Inspector General of Police presented the charges against VeryDarkMan.

The counts are as follows:

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.

"With the legal support from Falana & Falana’s Chambers, Otse's bail was perfected and he was released," the source said.

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