Abuja, Nigeria – The Department of State Services (DSS) has interrogated popular social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, over a leaked video connected to the ongoing trial of suspects accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu's government .
The interrogation followed an order by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who demanded a probe into how restricted footage presented as evidence in the high-profile case made its way into the public domain .
Court Orders Investigation
The development arose during court proceedings on June 23 and 24, 2026, when the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alerted the court that a video recording tendered as evidence was circulating on VeryDarkMan's social media platforms, violating an earlier court order restricting its distribution .
Oyedepo informed the court that the video had garnered over 6,000 online views and described the leak as a national security concern and prejudicial to the proceedings . He also noted that VeryDarkMan was present in court among the audience .
While all six defence lawyers denied involvement in the leak, some expressed support for an investigation, though the lawyer to the sixth defendant, Sanusi Musa (SAN), objected, arguing that the prosecution should file a formal application supported by evidence .
Ruling on the matter, Justice Abdulmalik cited Section 232(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, relating to witness protection, and ordered the DSS to investigate any evidence on social media that may have breached the court's earlier orders . The judge stated that anyone found responsible would face separate legal proceedings while the main trial continues .
VeryDarkMan's Account
Speaking about his encounter with the DSS via social media, VeryDarkMan revealed that he underwent hours of questioning before being released in the early hours of the morning .
"I got home around 2 a.m. this morning after spending hours at the DSS office, where I was interrogated and investigated over a video I posted four days ago," he said .
He explained to operatives that he did not create the video footage, noting that because he is a public figure, his phone number is widely available, and his Samsung phone automatically saves incoming media files even if he does not know the sender's identity .
The Coup Plot Trial
The six defendants in the case include a retired major general, Mohammed Ibrahim Gana; a retired navy captain, Erasmus Ochegobia Victor; Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector; Zekeri Umoru, an electrician at the Presidential Villa; Bukar Kashim Goni; and Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based Islamic cleric .
They face 13 counts of treason, terrorism, failure to disclose information, and money laundering over the alleged failed plot to topple the Tinubu administration, with information about the conspiracy leaked to authorities in September 2024 .
During the trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of the defendants' statements, the fourth prosecution witness, an army officer identified by the codename DDD, denied allegations that the suspects were tortured or coerced into making confessions .
The court has adjourned the matter until June 25 and 30 for the first three defendants to open their defence, with the remaining three set for July 1 and 2 . A ruling on bail applications has been fixed for July 20 .
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