Martins Vincent Otse, better known on social media as VeryDarkMan (VDM), responded after a court dismissed the criminal case brought against him for allegedly posing as a Nigerian police officer.

Speaking in a widely shared video after the court’s ruling, VDM claimed that his dismissal was due to the prosecution’s failure to present proof that he had either illegally worn a Nigerian police uniform or impersonated a police official.

He claimed that the case was without validity because he had never disclosed to anyone that he was a Nigerian Police Force officer.

“I’ve been struck out and I’ve been discharged. There is no evidence against me that I wore the Nigerian police uniform and they charged me for impersonation. And of course I didn’t impersonate because I never told anybody that I am a Nigerian police officer.”

VDM maintained that it was obvious from his appearance that he was not posing as a police officer.

“Policemen don’t wear earrings or put on nose rings or carry this hairstyle. So there is no possible way that I am a police officer.”

He also explained that his earlier reference to himself as “CSP” did not mean Chief Superintendent of Police.

“I said I was a CSP and a CSP means Chief Social Media Person. It has nothing to do with the police.”

Additionally, the activist insisted that his usage of the term “online police” was symbolic and had nothing to do with the Nigerian Police Force.

He humorously said that he had been elevated from “CSP” to “IG of social media,” noting that his definition of “IG” differed from the police’s.

In response to accusations that he was wearing a police uniform, VDM maintained that it was merely a black designer clothing and not an authentic police uniform.

“I did not wear a uniform. I was putting on a black and black cloth with design.”

He said he never thought the material had anything to do with the police and that he purchased it from a roadside trader in Maraba who he characterised as a Nubian man.

VDM thanked his legal team and the Nigerian legal system for achieving the desired result.

“I want to thank the justice system of this country for this very sweet case because obviously they have no evidence against me. So I’ve been discharged.”