By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, on Thursday, re-arraigned controversial social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly called VeryDarkMan (VDM), for allegedly cyberbullying Nollywood actresses, Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh.

VDM was also alleged to have cyberbullied famous Nigerian producer and singer, Samuel Oguachuba, also known as Samklef, among others.

He was re-arraigned before Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja on five-count charge.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge .

His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, prayed the court to allow VDM to continue on the earlier bail granted by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of a sister court.

Counsel to the I-G, Victor Okoye, did not object and the judge admitted him to the earlier bail terms and adjourned the matter until July 24 for trial.
VDM was on May 22, 2024, arraigned before Justice Olajuwon on same offences contrary to and punishable under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.
He was remanded and granted a N10 million bail on June 10, 2024, by the judge with two sureties who must be employee of reputable company or Level 17 officers in a federal civil service with evidence of three years’ tax clearance.

The charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2024 dated and filed on March 28, 2024, was, however, re-assigned to Justice Liman, following Justice Olajuwon’s transfer to another division of the Federal High Court.
In count one, VDM was alleged to have on or about Oct. 13, 2023, intentionally published via a video posted on his Instagram handle ‘verydarkblackman’, (aka verydarkblackman) threatening and bullying words, to harass Samuel Oguachuba.
In count two, he was alleged to have, on or about Oct 29, 2023, intentionally posted videos, by means of computer system on his Instagram handles which contained information that was grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character against Iyabo Ojo.
In the video, he was alleged to have stated that “one Ivabo Ojo is having indecent sexual relationship with her daughter.”
VDM was also accused to have, on or about Jan. 19, 2024, knowingly posted videos on his Instagram handles where he “falsely published that King Tonto Dikeh is accused of criminal conversion of the proceeds of crowd funding for Justice for Mobbad Movement, and being the person behind the gistlover blog.”
In count four, the defendant was alleged to have intentionally posted videos on March 19, 2024, on his Instagram handle against the Deputy-Inspector Generals (DIGs) of Police and lawmakers in the National Assembly considered to be annoying and insulting.
NAN

No fewer than 300 houses were destroyed, and properties worth millions of Naira were lost following a heavy windstorm and downpour in some communities in Katsina State.

The incident, which lasted for about fifteen minutes on Wednesday evening after Asr prayers, saw roofs and rafters flying through the sky.

Among the areas affected are Sabuwar Unguwar Modoji Gabas, Shinkafi, and Kukar-Gesa areas as well as Ambassador Quarters and some parts of Jibia Local Government Area (LGA) among others.

Residents Seek Help

Many residents, including a newlywed couple, were rendered homeless following the havoc.

Some of the victims described the incident as a test from God. They, however, asked the Katsina State Government and others to assist them amidst the lingering economic hardship.

Maryam Muhammad

One of the victims, Maryam Muhammad, said, “During the incident, I was just sitting inside the room and I eventually noticed that the only room I had was completely down, resulting in dislocation of my leg and hand bone.”

“Thank God all my children were at Islamiyya school then. We seek Divine and government interventions because I struggled hard and used all my property to raise this destroyed single room,” she said.

Another victim, Mubarak Rabi’u, re-echoed a similar sentiment, calling on the government to come to their aid.

“We are calling on our good government to look into our critical condition to assist us,” he said.

“Although we received this destiny in good faith, as I am speaking, we don’t know where our families will be heading, now that we are living from hand to mouth.”

Ward Head, Sabuwar Unguwar Modoji Area, Aminu Jafaru.

In the meantime, the Ward Head of Sabuwar Unguwar Modoji Gabas, Aminu Jafaru, has urged the Katsina State Government and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to as a matter of urgency send delegation to assess the level of damage in the area with a view to assist the victims.

“It was a heavy windstorm accompanied by rain which within fifteen minutes, several Houses completely destroyed. We are calling on government and well to do individuals to please come to our aid in this community otherwise many house occupants will become homeless.

“We are indeed in dire need of your kind support, please. We want the state Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, if he comes across this request, to please send a delegation to assess the level of damage here in our community,” Jafaru added.

Three opposition members of the House of Representatives on Thursday formally announced their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during plenary.

The Reps include Oluwole Oke from Osun State, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Kabiru Hassan Rumrum and Sani Abdullahi, both from Kano State, who defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the APC.

Rumrum had earlier declared his resignation from the NNPP and his return to the APC during a meeting with the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Also, Oke had earlier announced his departure from the PDP in Osun State and his decision to join the APC.

Their defections were formally announced by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen at Thursday’s plenary, increasing the total number of lawmakers who have switched parties since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly to 30.

Of the 30 defectors, 27 have joined the APC from the PDP, Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the NNPP.