The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of Martins Otse, popularly know as VeryDarkMan, following a string of petitions alleging his involvement in various financial crimes.
In a statement issued on May 6, 2025, the EFCC confirmed that Otse has been granted administrative bail and will be released once he complies with the set conditions.
According to the Commission, Otse repeatedly failed to respond to several formal requests to appear before investigators. These court orders were sent through multiple verified channels, but Otse allegedly ignored them, prompting his arrest by the appropriate authorities.
The EFCC stated that the petitions it received contained serious accusations of financial wrongdoing, which the agency is legally obligated to investigate.
The Commission emphasized that a valid court order permitting his detention was secured, in line with due process.
It also noted that Otse’s release is pending compliance with the terms of his bail.
Part of the EFCC’s statement read:
“In pursuit of its statutory responsibility to combat economic and financial crimes, the EFCC invited Martins Innocent Otse following several reports raising concerns about financial irregularities. Despite multiple notifications dispatched to his known addresses and communication channels, he failed to present himself. The allegations are weighty and cannot be dismissed.
“While the Commission acknowledges Otse’s previous public criticisms of its operations, these did not influence the decision to detain him. Such matters fall within the purview of other competent authorities.
“The EFCC lawfully detained Otse under a court-approved Remand Order. He has been granted administrative bail and will be freed once all the conditions are met.
“We are grateful for the public’s vigilance and concern regarding our activities. However, the EFCC must be allowed to carry out its duties objectively. Once the investigation is complete, appropriate charges will be filed,” the agency concluded.
In a separate development, human rights attorney Deji Adeyanju, who is representing Otse, questioned the legitimacy of the arrest.
Speaking on May 5, 2025, Adeyanju claimed that the EFCC had confirmed there was no formal petition lodged against his client. After visiting Otse at the agency’s Abuja headquarters, he expressed deep concern about the lack of justification for the detention.
“I landed in Nigeria this evening and went straight to see VDM at the EFCC office. I just finished meeting with him,” Adeyanju wrote on his social media platforms.
“We are still trying to understand the basis for his arrest. EFCC officials, when pressed, admitted that no petition has been filed against him.”
Otse, widely recognized for his bold commentary on social and political matters, was reportedly picked up by EFCC operatives at a Guaranty Trust Bank location in Abuja. Adeyanju criticized the agency’s action as unlawful and accused it of engaging in arbitrary detention, calling for Otse’s immediate release.
As of the time of reporting, the EFCC had not issued a further clarification on the arrest. Meanwhile, the hashtag #FreeVDM continues to trend on Nigerian social media as citizens and advocacy groups demand more transparency.
This isn’t Otse’s first confrontation with authorities, as his controversial online content has previously drawn official scrutiny. The Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL) also released a statement strongly denouncing what it described as the EFCC’s illegal detention of the social commentator.
