Popular Nigerian social media activist and influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations related to cyberstalking.
According to a reliable source within the Commission who spoke on condition of anonymity, Otse was apprehended following multiple complaints accusing him of using his social media platforms to harass, insult, and intimidate various individuals. These actions, the source noted, may violate the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act of 2015.
While the EFCC has not released the names of the complainants or full details of the allegations, the influencer’s legal counsel and notable Nigerian activist, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the arrest on Sunday. Adeyanju stated he would return to Abuja by Monday afternoon to work on securing VDM’s release.
“I’m currently not in Nigeria, but I’ll be back in Abuja tomorrow (Monday) afternoon. By 4 p.m., we’ll be at the EFCC to secure his bail,” Adeyanju said, adding that the specific charges had not yet been formally communicated.
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A History of Legal Challenges.
This latest development adds to a growing list of legal issues involving VeryDarkMan:
- May 2024: VDM was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on five counts of cyberstalking. The charges were related to online statements allegedly targeting the Nigeria Police Force and Nollywood actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded pending a bail hearing.
- September 2024: Influencer Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, sued VDM for ₦1 billion over alleged defamation. The lawsuit was linked to a leaked voice recording in which VDM accused Bobrisky of bribing EFCC officials to escape prosecution. Bobrisky refuted the claims, stating the recording was AI-generated.
- November 2024: VDM was charged with impersonation after allegedly dressing as a police officer. He again pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of ₦2 million by an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court.
- April 2025: A court issued an arrest warrant against Otse following defamatory comments he allegedly made about gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. The court also ordered him to delete the content and issue a public apology.
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Arrest Linked to Bank Dispute?
VDM’s most recent arrest reportedly followed a public incident at a GTBank branch in Abuja, where he complained about alleged unauthorized deductions from his mother’s bank account.
Sowore Condemns Arrest.
Human rights advocate and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has denounced the arrest, calling it an attempt to intimidate and silence the activist.
“It has become evident that the EFCC unlawfully arrested and detained Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VDM, in a bid to silence him after he accused the agency and its leadership of corruption and misconduct,” Sowore said.
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“The EFCC lacks the constitutional mandate to prosecute criminal defamation, libel, or cybercrime — matters that are usually pursued through civil proceedings. Therefore, VDM must be released immediately,” he added.Sources indicate that the EFCC is preparing to file formal charges, potentially as early as Monday, May 6. Efforts to reach the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, for official comment were unsuccessful at the time of this report, as his lines remained unreachable.
