Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and continued detention of popular social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as a gross abuse of power by the Tinubu-led administration.
VeryDarkMan was reportedly picked up by the EFCC following multiple petitions alleging cyberstalking, according to the agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale.
The development has sparked outrage among Nigerian youths, with several taking to the streets of Abuja in protest of the influencer’s arrest.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, Atiku expressed deep concern over what he described as an emerging pattern of repression and disregard for fundamental human rights under President Bola Tinubu’s government.
“The arrest and continued detention of social media influencer and outspoken critic, Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is yet another blatant abuse of power by the Tinubu administration, which has made political repression a hallmark of its rule,” Atiku said.
He further decried the fact that Otse remains in custody without formal charges, calling it a violation of his constitutional rights and a sign of increasing authoritarianism.
“This latest episode is part of a disturbing pattern: the Tinubu regime’s relentless assault on the fundamental freedoms of Nigerians, particularly those who dare to speak truth to power or align with the political opposition,” he added.
Atiku also criticized the apparent double standard in the administration’s approach to justice, accusing it of shielding loyalists with credible corruption allegations while targeting critics.
“The Tinubu administration’s systematic crackdown on opposition voices is nothing short of disgraceful. It is an affront to democratic norms and must be fiercely condemned and resisted,” he stated.
The former Vice President called for an end to what he described as state-sponsored repression and urged Nigerians to stand up in defense of democracy and civil liberties.
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