Outrage as Social Media Personality “Very Dark Man” Publishes Court Documents, Sparks Controversy Over Harrison Gwamnishu Case
By Passman Akpos
Benin City, Edo State – Social media influencer “Very Dark Man” has come under fire for allegedly publicizing sensitive court documents in a video concerning Harrison Gwamnishu, raising questions about legality, ethics, and social media responsibility.
In a video widely circulated online, Very Dark Man displayed a court paper from the Benin High Court of Justice. The action has drawn sharp criticism from legal observers and concerned citizens, including Ossia Ovie Success, who described the act as “ignorant and deeply disappointing.”
According to Success, the court documents were misinterpreted by Very Dark Man. “Harrison was never arraigned or tried before any court,” Success explained. “The Edo State Police Command only presented issues before the court on a holding charge pursuant to a remand motion. Very Dark Man does not understand what a holding charge means.”
A holding charge, he clarified, is a temporary, minor criminal charge allowing authorities to detain a suspect while building a case for more serious offenses. While common in Nigeria, it has been widely criticized as unconstitutional, contributing to pre-trial detention abuses and prison congestion.
Success further noted that Harrison’s case had progressed to a bail application by his lawyers. “No plea was taken, and the court did not assume substantive jurisdiction. The court’s role was administrative—granting bail and transferring the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice,” he said. The court granted bail due to insufficient evidence, despite allegations including kidnapping.
The public release of court documents that are not yet in the public domain is illegal under Nigerian law, making Very Dark Man’s actions potentially criminal. “The court and the police need to investigate how Very Dark Man obtained those documents. He should be invited immediately if the publication was unauthorized,” Success stated.
“This incident underscores the dangers of being famous without understanding the law. Educated commentary is far better than notoriety based on misinformation,” Success added.
The controversy has reignited debates over the ethics of social media influencers handling sensitive legal matters and the need for legal literacy among public figures.
