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By Barth Ikiebe in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied a report by BBC News Pidgin regarding the reason for the arrest of controversial social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
BBC News Pidgin and some Online news Blogs had earlier reported that the anti-graft agency, through its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest of VeryDarkMan over multiple petitions against him on Monday.
According to the reports, VDM was taken into custody following complaints from several petitioners.
They also quoted Oyewale as saying that the critic would be released “when he meets the bail conditions,” and that he was to be arraigned soon.
But, the EFCC has taken to its social media handles on Monday evening to counter the report, describing it as “fake news”.
The anti-graft agency did not state further details as it just posted the screenshot of the BBC News Pidgin report and from one other person and dub it ‘fake news’.
It would be recalled that VeryDarkMan was apprehended on Friday, May 2, 2025, shortly after visiting a Bank in Area 3, Garki, Abuja.
The arrest has drawn public criticism and sparked outrage on social media, with allegations that the bank collaborated with EFCC operatives to effec the arrest.
According to his lawyer, activist Deji Adeyanju, VDM was held inside the bank’s security exit door for several minutes, allegedly to delay him until EFCC operatives arrived.
“VDM was locked inside the GTB exit door for over five minutes to enable EFCC to arrest him and his friend.
“We will take legal action against GTB for this treatment,” Deji noted.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
