EFCC Secures Court Order to Detain Activist ‘VeryDarkMan’ Over Alleged CybercrimeThe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a court order to detain social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), pending the conclusion of an ongoing investigation into alleged cybercrime offences.
Otse was arrested on Friday at a bank in the Wuse area of Abuja by a joint team comprising EFCC operatives, officers from the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force. Eyewitnesses reported that he was taken into custody shortly after exiting the bank premises.
The arrest has drawn widespread criticism online, with the hashtag #FreeVDM trending across social media platforms over the weekend. Critics have accused the authorities of targeting voices critical of the government.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the EFCC is preparing to charge Otse under the Cybercrimes Act, which grants the agency authority to investigate and prosecute crimes involving digital platforms, particularly those with financial or economic implications.
“The remand order was granted to allow us to complete our investigation and finalize the charges,” a senior EFCC official told reporters. “He would be arraigned once we conclude that process, and the charges are expected to be substantial.”
