Entertainment
Charge Me to court, VeryDarkMan challenges police over checkpoint kidnapping claims
Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has said he will not submit to the police the evidence backing his allegation that some security personnel aid kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria.
Otse, who reacted on Thursday to the invitation extended to him by the Nigeria Police Force, said he was prepared to honour the invitation. Still, he would prefer to present his evidence in court.
“I’m not going to be giving the police my evidence. Why would I do that? I would be charged in court, and I would turn down the evidence in court,” he said in a video posted on his Instagram page.
The police had earlier invited Otse to provide evidence backing his allegation that police officers manning checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and pass information about them to kidnappers to facilitate their abduction.
The Force described the allegation as serious, unsubstantiated and damaging to the institution, while saying any evidence presented by the activist would be treated with urgency and thoroughly investigated.
Reacting to the invitation, Otse said his lawyers were ready and challenged the police to charge him to court if they believed he had committed an offence.
“So when I get to your office, you charge me to court. I can go to court on that same day. My lawyers are on ground,” he said.
The activist maintained his earlier allegation that security agencies were aiding insecurity in the country, saying the police, military, immigration and customs knew what was happening.
“It is the police people that aid insecurity. It is the military men that benefit from insecurity. That’s why it can never stop,” he alleged.
Otse also questioned the continued prevalence of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping despite government spending on security.
“How much is your budget to battle insecurity? How much is your budget? Go and look at your budget and tell me why we still have bandits and terrorists kidnapping people,” he said.
He said he was ready to face the police and military in court over his allegations, adding that he would continue speaking out on issues affecting the country.
“But like I said, why would I want to give you my evidence? I wouldn’t do that. Who would take you to court? You understand? When you’re ready, I’m ready. Face the love, don’t play,” he said.
Otse also accused Nigerians of defending security agencies after his allegations, despite routinely criticising the police and military over insecurity.
He said his comments were aimed at holding public institutions accountable and maintained that he stood by his allegations.
“I’m proud of myself that right in their faces I said what I had to say and to tell them that the insecurity going on in Nigeria, it is aided by them. I stand by my words,” he said.
The activist, however, acknowledged the poor welfare of police officers, saying the government needed to improve their working conditions to strengthen security in the country.
He said, “There is no welfare for the Nigerian police. If you want Nigeria’s security to be tightened, you have to take care of our policemen. Take care of them.”
Otse’s latest comments came weeks after he accused the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Moshood Jimoh, of corruption in connection with the investigation of the case involving businessman Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi.
The police subsequently confirmed that Jimoh had been invited for questioning as part of an internal administrative review and also invited Otse to substantiate his allegations.
The Force said the criminal matter linked to the claims was already before a court following advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Otse said the police had initially taken weeks to respond to his allegations against Jimoh but moved quickly to issue a statement over his recent comments on checkpoint kidnappings.
He alleged that he had released evidence relating to the case, including claims of torture of suspects, but that the police did not initially respond until he released additional material.
The activist also repeated his controversial claim that politicians use cattle to launder money, arguing that Fulani herders were victims of political manipulation.
He concluded by saying he was ready to face the police whenever they chose to proceed against him.
“For the police, I’m very, very ready for you guys. 100 per cent. I’m ready to show you that you people aid insecurity. You people aid banditry and terrorism in this country,” he said.
“Let’s meet in court. The evidence will be tendered there.”
Afrobeats star Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, better known as Ayra Starr, has announced a 20-city world tour to support her third studio album, Starrgirl.
The Starrgirl World Tour is scheduled to begin in Europe in January 2027, with stops across Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America.
Ayra announced that the tour will open on January 20 at Live Music Hall in Cologne, Germany. It will then move through Amsterdam, Paris, Milan, Zurich and Brussels before closing the European leg in London on February 2 at Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
The North American leg will commence on March 18 at House of Blues in Houston, Texas, with additional performances in Dallas, Atlanta, Silver Spring, Boston, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver.
The tour will round off on April 14 at The Fillmore in San Francisco, California.
Before the international dates, she is expected to perform in Africa in December 2026, though dates and venues for that leg are yet to be disclosed.
The announcement comes a day after her appearance at the National Football League International Game in London on Sunday, October 11, where she headlined the halftime show during the Philadelphia Eagles versus Jacksonville Jaguars match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The performance added to her growing list of international milestones, following the global success of her music and outings at major global events.
Starrgirl, released on August 14, 2026, through Mavin Records and Republic Records, features collaborations with British singer ZAYN, American singer Leon Thomas and Nigerian singer Wizkid. NigerianCulture Magazine
The album includes Heaven Baby with ZAYN, which reached number two on the Official Afrobeats Chart, according to the Official Charts Company.
Starr, known for breakout hits like Rush, Bloody Samaritan and Commas, has continued to expand her reach beyond Africa through streaming, international shows and cross-border collaborations.
According to her Instagram Story post, tickets for the European and UK dates will be available through artist and Mastercard presales starting October 14, with general sales opening October 16 at 10 am local time via Live Nation.
Sharon Ademefun (née Adeleke), the sister of popular Nigerian singer Davido, has said she no longer spends excessively on expensive clothes.
She said some things are worth the cost, but others are hard to justify.
Daily Voice reports that Ademefun shared her reservations during an interview on The Fashion Round Table podcast.
“I don’t really believe in buying expensive clothes, me personally. I believe that there are some things that are worth it. When I’m hearing that a wedding guest dress is $10,000, a wedding guest dress, they’re all the same price now,” she said.
Sharon also opened up about her wedding expenses, revealing that her husband paid $2,000 for her wedding dress, while she covered the cost of dresses for her 13 bridesmaids and an additional four or five hostesses.
“I remember for my wedding, my husband paid $2,000 for my dress, and I paid for all my bridesmaids’ dresses. I had 13 bridesmaids, and I paid for the hostesses’ dresses too. That was an additional four or five people. Altogether, I spent less than $10,000 on everything. But that comes back to where I went. I just feel like there are certain things that I’m not willing to pay for anymore. So I don’t believe in overly expensive clothes. I’m turning 40 next year, and I’ve made an executive decision- unfortunately, I’m sorry to say this- that I will not be participating with any Nigerian designer directly,” she said.
Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and his son, Seyi Tinubu, to increase his payment after his participation in the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally held on Tuesday.
Daily Voice reports that the singer made the demand after throwing himself into campaigning and entertaining supporters during the political event
The rally, organized in support of the Tinubu-Shettima political ticket, took place at Onikan Stadium, Lagos State.
Videos from the gathering showed Portable moving around the venue while engaging supporters and participating in activities aimed at promoting the president.
However, the singer appeared exhausted in one of the viral clips circulating on social media. Portable was seen lying on the floor and insisting that he wanted to meet Tinubu and Seyi before leaving the venue.
His manager, Babylov, was also captured attempting to persuade him to get up as they prepared to leave the stadium.
The singer reportedly fainted due to overcrowding at the event.
Despite acknowledging that he had received payment for attending the rally, Portable insisted that his efforts and the physical stress he experienced deserved additional compensation.
He said: “I want to see Tinubu and Seyi Tinubu; they have almost squeezed me to death. I have fainted; it is Tinubu that is winning. Did we not collect money? Tinubu, pay me more money; I am feeling so much heat.”
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