A Federal Capital Territory court has granted bail to social media influencer “VeryDarkMan” (VDM) after his recent detention by the Nigerian Police for allegedly impersonating an officer in a viral video.
The court set a bail of N2 million and required two sureties with stringent conditions, including the deposit of international passports, proof of identification, and residency within Abuja municipality. Both VDM and the sureties must also provide affidavits ensuring his availability for all court appearances throughout the trial.
This controversy began when VDM posted a video online, dressed in a police uniform, where he referred to himself as a “CSP of an online division.” After the video went viral, VDM apologized on social media, explaining that he was unaware of the need for police permission to wear the uniform. He cautioned other content creators to secure clearance from law enforcement before using official attire for online content.
Despite VDM’s apology and compliance with a police summons on Wednesday, his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, reported that VDM was detained after responding to another police invitation on Thursday. Adeyanju expressed disappointment over the situation, noting that VDM had previously spoken positively about the Nigerian police, encouraging cooperation between the public and law enforcement.
The incident has stirred debate on social media about the boundaries of creative freedom and the legal implications of impersonating officials for content purposes.
