By Kingston Magare 4/5/2025
Social activist Martins Otse a.k.a VeryDarkMan remains in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the third day running and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and the Amnesty International have slammed the manner his arrest.
VeryDarkMan was forcibly arrested Friday after he had gone to a branch of GT bank to lay complaints about fraudulent withdrawals from his mother’s bank account. His arrest has attracted condemnation from far and wide with youths threatening to stage a protest Monday if he is not released.
Writing on his X Sunday Obi stated that VeryDarkMan’s arrest was like a kidnapping of a citizen
“The arrest of Martin Vincent Otse, though perhaps within the legal rights of security agencies, was carried out in a manner that left many Nigerians unsettled,” Obi wrote
. “The display of force, lacking in transparency and civility, closely resembled an abduction – a disturbing method that not only creates fear but also risks being mimicked by criminal elements.”
According to the Amnesty International said the arrest was an attempt to silence voices of opposition.
“VeryDarkMan’s legitimate attempt to make corporate and public institutions to be accountable to the people is perfectly within his rights.
“Frequent manipulation of government agencies to silence dissenting voices undermines the rule of law,” the organisation stated.
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said VDM is being held due to issues he has with the EFCC and some other individuals “We have some petitions against him that we are working on. He has some issues with us,” said Mr Oyewale.
Political activist Omoyele Sowore, in a Facebook post on Sunday, hinted that the EFCC was currently making moves to legitimise VDM’s arrest by presenting him in court on Monday.
“It has been established that the EFCC unlawfully arrested and detained Martins Vincent Otse, aka VDM, as a means to silence him for accusing the agency and its leaders of corruption and malfeasance.
“The EFCC is currently exploring legal avenues to charge him to court, possibly tomorrow, in an attempt to legitimise their actions,” Mr Sowore stated.
