Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), remains in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), despite being granted administrative bail, his lawyer Deji Adeyanju has revealed.
In a statement released Tuesday by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency confirmed that Otse had been offered bail but was still in custody due to unmet bail conditions. Oyewale explained that the activist was invited for questioning following multiple petitions alleging serious financial crimes. According to him, VDM had failed to respond to several invitations sent to his known addresses and communication channels, prompting his arrest.
Oyewale defended the commission’s actions, stating, “EFCC has a lawful right to hold Otse in custody like any other suspect. The appropriate remand order was obtained. He has been offered administrative bail and will be released upon meeting the conditions.”
However, Adeyanju expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of transparency from the EFCC. In a post on social media, he claimed his legal team had not been granted access to the bail documents, despite repeated requests.
“Bail granted VDM, social media bail. We are yet to receive any official bail documentation. Several attempts since yesterday have yielded no results,” Adeyanju wrote.
Addressing public concerns about the legality of the arrest, Oyewale reiterated that the EFCC’s actions were based solely on the financial crime allegations. He dismissed claims that VDM’s arrest was retaliation for his outspoken criticism of the commission on social media.
“The arrest is not a reaction to his public statements. The EFCC received credible petitions regarding financial malfeasance that could not be ignored. We urge the public to avoid speculative narratives,” Oyewale stated.
He added that the EFCC would proceed with formal charges once investigations are complete, and emphasized that the agency must be allowed to carry out its duties without interference.
The arrest has sparked widespread reactions. On Monday, protesters gathered at the GTBank headquarters in Abuja, demanding VDM’s release. The incident has also drawn condemnation from public figures, including 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, as well as legal professionals and fans of the controversial activist.
Punch
