- VeryDarkMan Arrested: Social media influencer VeryDarkMan was arrested by the EFCC over allegations of cyberstalking.
- Allegations: The EFCC received several complaints about VDM’s use of social media to harass, insult, and intimidate individuals.
- Previous Run-ins: VDM has had previous run-ins with the law, including arraignment on cyberstalking charges and a defamation lawsuit.
- Controversy: Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore condemned the arrest, describing it as an attempt to silence VDM for exposing alleged corruption within the EFCC.
- Bail Plans: VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, plans to secure his bail.
Social media influencer VeryDarkMan, whose real name is Martins Vincent Otse, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of cyberstalking. The EFCC confirmed the arrest, stating that it was based on several complaints regarding his use of social media platforms to harass, insult, and intimidate individuals, which may contravene the Cybercrimes Act of 2015.
VeryDarkMan was arrested after visiting a GTBank branch in Abuja, where he had gone to complain about unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, claims that VDM was ambushed by EFCC operatives inside the bank and locked inside the exit door for over five minutes to enable the arrest. Adeyanju has announced plans to secure VDM’s bail.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has condemned the arrest, describing it as an attempt to silence VeryDarkMan for exposing alleged corruption within the EFCC. Sowore argued that the EFCC lacks the legal mandate to prosecute individuals for criminal defamation, libel, or cybercrime, which are typically handled through civil litigation.
This is not VeryDarkMan’s first run-in with the law. In May 2024, he was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja on five counts of cyberstalking and pleaded not guilty. He also faced fresh charges of impersonation in November 2024 and was sued for ₦1 billion by popular crossdresser Bobrisky for defamation.
