The legal representatives of popular social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), have criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for failing to formally inform their client of any charges, days after his arrest on May 1, 2025.
Speaking on Tuesday, Zainab Otega, a member of VDM’s legal team, revealed that Otse underwent hours of interrogation in the presence of her colleague, Marvin Omorogbe, yet no formal allegations were presented against him.
While the EFCC previously announced that Otse had been granted administrative bail, his legal team confirmed that he remains in custody, declining to disclose the specific bail conditions.
The commission defended its actions in a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity, claiming Otse had repeatedly ignored invitations for questioning and that a valid remand order had been obtained.
However, Otega argued that the line of questioning during interrogation strayed into irrelevant areas, such as Otse’s social media earnings, his handling of naira notes at a nightclub, remarks about a gospel artiste, and his tax records. She described the probe as “fishing for evidence” rather than a focused legal investigation.
“The EFCC’s refusal to inform our client of the specific allegations against him constitutes a fundamental breach of his constitutional rights,” Otega stated.
She called for Otse’s immediate release, or alternatively, that he be charged to court if the EFCC possesses credible evidence.
Citing the constitutional 24-hour limit for detention without charge, the legal team insists the continued detention is unlawful.
Meanwhile, the EFCC maintained that its arrest of Otse was justified and part of its broader anti-corruption efforts, reiterating its authority to detain suspects during investigations.
“Otse has been offered administrative bail, subject to fulfilment of specific conditions. The EFCC remains committed to due process,” the commission noted.
Otega urged Nigerians to remain calm and exercise their right to peaceful protest, while thanking the public for their support and attention to the case.
The EFCC stated that formal charges will be filed upon conclusion of its investigations, urging the public not to pre-judge the commission’s intent or actions.
Comments