EFCC Arrests VeryDarkMan: HURIWA Slams Detention As Abuse Of Power

ABUJA — Social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly referred to as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has reportedly been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over suspected breaches related to cyberstalking.

A confidential source from within the EFCC informed LMSINT Media that Otse was apprehended due to multiple allegations claiming he had utilized his digital platforms to threaten, insult, and intimidate certain individuals, which may be in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

While pressed for details regarding the identities of the complainants, the source refrained from offering further clarification.

VDM’s legal counsel, Deji Adeyanju, speaking from outside the country, disclosed to LMSINT Media that he would be returning to Abuja by Monday afternoon to pursue bail for his client. He noted that the EFCC has not officially stated the specific offense Otse is accused of.

Meanwhile, LMSINT Media has learned that the anti-graft agency may file formal charges against Otse imminently.

Critics Decry Arrest as Abuse of Power

Activist Omoyele Sowore and several civil society advocates have condemned the arrest, labeling it an unlawful attempt by the EFCC to silence VDM after his criticism of the agency and its leadership. According to them, the move lacks legal merit.

Sowore emphasized that the EFCC does not have the authority to prosecute issues like libel, criminal defamation, or cyberbullying, which are typically matters of civil litigation, not criminal charges. He stressed that VDM should be immediately released.

Similarly, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) described the detention as arbitrary and illegal, calling on the EFCC to free VDM without delay.

In a public statement from Abuja, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, accused the commission of acting outside its legal boundaries and favoring the interests of commercial banks over the rights of citizens.

“The EFCC is gradually becoming a mechanism of oppression against average Nigerians, rather than serving as a watchdog against corruption,” Onwubiko stated.

He continued, “It is both morally wrong and legally flawed to treat a citizen like a criminal simply for questioning suspicious deductions from his mother’s bank account.”

Details Surrounding the Arrest

The rights group revealed that Otse’s arrest occurred shortly after he visited a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) branch in Garki, Abuja, seeking clarity over alleged unauthorized withdrawals from his mother’s account. He was arrested alongside a friend, Steven Avuara (C-PACK). Both men were reportedly assaulted and blindfolded during the arrest.

According to representatives from Deji Adeyanju and Partners, who visited EFCC headquarters, VDM was being detained under a warrant signed by Magistrate Njideka Iloanya-Duru, on allegations linked to cyberstalking.

A statement issued by Zainab M. Otega, Esq., from the same firm, disclosed that Otse has refused to speak to anyone since the incident, citing the trauma endured during his forcible arrest.

“Our clients were apprehended violently and without clear justification — a direct infringement on their legal and human rights,” the law firm emphasized.

HURIWA Demands End to Cybercrime Law Abuse

HURIWA also warned against the EFCC’s alleged manipulation of the Cybercrime Act, which it claims is being used to suppress activist voices. Onwubiko further criticized the unequal application of justice, accusing the commission of ignoring significant financial crimes perpetrated by political elites connected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It’s astonishing that major figures from past administrations, particularly in ministries like Humanitarian Affairs, roam free despite serious allegations, while citizens like VDM are arrested for raising questions,” Onwubiko noted.

The association reiterated that Otse’s arrest contradicts constitutional protections that ensure the right to free speech and due process.

HURIWA maintained that unless EFCC abides by the law, legal action will be initiated to uphold the rights of not just Otse, but all Nigerians committed to accountability and transparency.

Learn more about the Cybercrimes Act, 2015 via Nigerian Legal Information Institute