Why VeryDarkMan Was Taken Into Custody by EFCC
Popular social media figure Martins Vincent Otse, widely recognized as VeryDarkMan, has reportedly been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) due to cyberstalking allegations, according to sources cited by Vanguard.
An EFCC insider, who requested anonymity, disclosed on Sunday that the influencer was detained following multiple complaints accusing him of using his online platforms to harass, insult, and intimidate individuals—conduct potentially in breach of the Cybercrimes Act of 2015.
The identities of those who lodged the complaints and further details of the allegations remain undisclosed at this time.
VeryDarkMan, known for his outspoken and controversial online presence, has faced several legal challenges in the past. In May 2024, he was brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja on five charges related to cyberstalking. These charges were linked to alleged online attacks targeting the Nigeria Police Force as well as Nollywood stars Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh. He entered a not guilty plea and was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Additional legal trouble followed in November 2024, when he appeared before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court on charges of impersonating a police officer. Prosecutors accused him of dressing and presenting himself as law enforcement. He denied the allegations and was granted bail set at ₦2 million.
In September 2024, he was the subject of a ₦1 billion lawsuit filed by Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky. The suit alleged defamation after VDM circulated an audio recording claiming Bobrisky had bribed EFCC officials to suppress a money laundering investigation—claims Bobrisky denied, stating the recording was AI-generated.
By April 2025, the courts issued an arrest warrant over alleged defamatory remarks aimed at gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. He was instructed to remove the content and issue a public apology.
VeryDarkMan’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, told Vanguard from abroad that he plans to return to Abuja to pursue his client’s release. The latest arrest came after VDM publicly confronted a GTBank branch in Abuja over what he claimed were unauthorized withdrawals from his mother’s account.
“I’ll be back in Abuja by Monday afternoon and will head to the EFCC by 4 p.m. to secure his bail,” Adeyanju confirmed, noting that the EFCC had not yet officially specified the charges.
Meanwhile, activist Omoyele Sowore condemned the arrest, arguing it was a retaliatory move by the EFCC after VDM accused the agency of corruption. Sowore stated that the EFCC lacks the legal authority to prosecute cases of defamation or cybercrime, which are typically addressed through civil courts, and called for his immediate release.
Reports suggest that formal charges could be brought against VeryDarkMan as early as Monday, though efforts to reach EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale for comment were unsuccessful.
