Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed strong disapproval over the arrest and prolonged detention of popular social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, widely recognized as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Taking to his verified X account, Atiku accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of misusing security institutions to clamp down on dissent and muzzle freedom of expression.
“The continued detention of Mr Otse without formal charges clearly reflects the Tinubu government’s pattern of using state power to target those who speak out,” Atiku stated.
He described the situation as a gross violation of constitutional rights and a troubling sign of creeping authoritarianism.
According to him, this act is not an isolated case but part of a broader trend aimed at silencing critics and political opposition.
Atiku warned that Nigerians must not stand by while state-backed suppression becomes normalized, insisting that democracy must never be reduced to a tool of intimidation.
He further slammed the government’s perceived double standards, pointing out that while critics are hounded, loyalists with serious allegations of corruption remain untouched due to their allegiance.
Calling the development “shameful,” Atiku stressed the need for urgent resistance against what he described as a blatant attack on democratic values.