 has refuted claims that it detained social media personality Martins Vincent Otse,){kind=link}
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted claims that it detained social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, known online as VeryDarkMan (VDM), due to multiple petitions filed against him.
Earlier on Monday, May 5, the BBC quoted EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale as saying that the activist was taken into custody to address various complaints submitted by different individuals.
Oyewale allegedly stated, “We brought him in to answer to numerous allegations raised by several petitioners.”
When asked if the petitions were linked to Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), Oyewale clarified that the complaints came from multiple sources and were not bank-specific.
He emphasized that it is up to the petitioners to retain their petitions for further legal steps.
The EFCC spokesperson further noted that VDM would be released once he fulfilled his bail requirements, and the matter would be prosecuted in court. He also reiterated the agency’s commitment to following legal procedures.
Despite the arrest reportedly taking place in Abuja, the EFCC later released a tweet dismissing the circulating report as false information.
Meanwhile, VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, voiced frustration over the continued detention of his client. Adeyanju had initially announced the arrest, claiming that VDM was apprehended at GTBank’s headquarters.
He condemned the action in a tweet, stating, “VDM was picked up by the police at GTB after a brief conversation. This is completely unacceptable—seeking justice is not a crime, and people should not be penalized for speaking out.”