The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly arrested Nigerian social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), on allegations related to cyberstalking.
According to EFCC sources, the arrest follows multiple complaints alleging that Otse used his platforms to harass, insult, and intimidate individuals, potentially violating the Cybercrimes Act of 2015. However, the EFCC has not disclosed the identities of the complainants or provided formal charges yet.
Deji Adeyanju, VDM’s legal counsel, confirmed the arrest and said efforts are underway to secure his bail, although the EFCC has not specified the offence.
The arrest has sparked significant backlash:
- Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist, accused the EFCC of abusing its powers and detaining VDM unlawfully, particularly after he had accused the agency of corruption and misconduct.
- HURIWA (Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria) strongly condemned the action, calling it “unlawful and arbitrary”, and accused the EFCC of acting as protectors for commercial banks rather than fighting corruption.
Legal representatives from Deji Adeyanju & Partners revealed that Otse was arrested after visiting a GTBank branch to inquire about suspicious deductions from his mother’s account. He was arrested alongside his friend, Steven Avuara (C-PACK). Both were allegedly beaten and blindfolded, and Otse is now said to be traumatized and refusing to speak.
The law firm confirmed that a magistrate’s warrant was used for the arrest, citing cyberstalking charges.
HURIWA emphasized the misuse of the Cybercrime Act to suppress dissent and warned of legal action if Otse is not released immediately. They argue that the EFCC should focus on large-scale corruption cases rather than intimidating citizens, especially when high-profile financial crimes go unpunished.
