VeryDarkMan trial adjournment delays cyberbullying and cybercrime case to December 2 as Federal High Court in Abuja hears other matters before rising

The VeryDarkMan trial adjournment has further delayed proceedings in the cybercrime case against Martins Otse, a controversial social media personality known as VDM.

Also read: VeryDarkMan re-arraigned for alleged cyberbullying

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday postponed the trial to 2 December 2025 after Justice Musa Liman rose for the day, having attended to other cases on the cause list.

Otse is facing a five-count charge under the Cybercrime Act, 2015, filed by the Inspector-General of Police. The allegations include cyberbullying and online harassment against Nollywood actresses Tonto Dikeh and Iyabo Ojo, and music producer Samklef.

At his arraignment on 15 May 2025, VDM pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, successfully requested that he continue under the bail conditions granted earlier by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon. The prosecution did not oppose this.

Justice Liman accepted the existing bail terms and initially fixed trial for 24 July, but the court has now rescheduled proceedings once again.

VDM was first arraigned on 22 May before Justice Olajuwon, who remanded him before granting bail of ₦10 million. Conditions included two sureties who are senior federal civil servants or employees of reputable firms and proof of three years’ tax clearance.

Following Justice Olajuwon’s transfer, the matter was reassigned to Justice Liman.

According to court filings (FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2024), VDM is accused of posting harassing content via his Instagram account, ‘verydarkblackman’, on multiple occasions.

Count one relates to a video posted on 13 October 2023 targeting Samklef. Count two accuses him of uploading indecent and offensive material against Iyabo Ojo on 29 October. He allegedly stated that she “is having indecent sexual relationship with her daughter.”

Count three concerns a January 2024 video in which he claimed Tonto Dikeh misused crowd-funded donations for the Justice for Mohbad Movement and ran the controversial gistlover blog.

Count four involves allegedly insulting videos aimed at Deputy Inspector-Generals of Police and members of the National Assembly, posted on 19 March 2024.

Also read: VeryDarkMan released on bail after five days in EFCC custody

The VeryDarkMan trial adjournment raises further concerns about the timeline and outcome of a case that has drawn widespread online attention and divided public opinion.