By Grace Chigbu
Prominent Nigerian social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), was interrogated for several hours by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, May 5, 2025. The controversial figure is under scrutiny following numerous petitions submitted to the anti-graft agency, concerning his source of income, content creation methods, and defamatory claims made against notable individuals, including gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
Sources close to the matter confirmed that VDM was questioned extensively at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. The interrogation, which began around 2:30 p.m., was conducted in the presence of his legal representatives, Deji Adeyanju and Marvin Omorogbe. SaharaReporters gathered that the activist was also grilled about his allegations against Chinwo, who has filed a defamation suit against him.
Mercy Chinwo is demanding ₦1 billion in general damages, ₦100 million in punitive damages, ₦25 million for legal costs, and 10% annual interest until full payment is made. The lawsuit stems from VDM’s claim that Chinwo diverted \$345,000 from her former manager, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu. Chinwo is also seeking a public apology to be published for 14 consecutive days in national newspapers.
The EFCC, through its spokesperson Dele Oyewale, confirmed the activist’s arrest and ongoing questioning. “We arrested him to respond to a series of allegations raised against him by some petitioners,” Oyewale stated during an interview with BBC News Pidgin. He clarified that the complaints were not limited to one source, such as Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), but involved multiple individuals, and that the Commission is exploring all aspects of the case.
VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, described the arrest as deliberate and unjust. According to Adeyanju, his client had gone to GTBank in Area 3, Garki, Abuja, alongside his mother and a friend to resolve a dispute regarding unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account. There, VDM was reportedly locked inside the bank’s exit door for over five minutes—allegedly to allow EFCC agents to arrest him.
Adeyanju further criticized the bank’s action, labeling it inhumane and announcing plans to initiate legal action against GTBank for facilitating what he termed an ambush.
Meanwhile, the Take It Back (TIB) Movement condemned the arrest and demanded VDM’s unconditional release. They highlighted a troubling twist in the case: the disappearance of VDM’s mother following the arrest, with her whereabouts currently unknown. The group claimed this incident reflects a disturbing trend of targeting activists for their outspokenness on corruption and social injustice.
The development has since sparked public outrage. A protest was held outside GTBank’s Abuja branch on Monday, with youths carrying placards and waving Nigerian flags, demanding justice and transparency.
VDM’s interrogation and the surrounding controversies have reignited national conversations around freedom of expression, abuse of power, and the role of law enforcement in civil matters. The EFCC has stated that the activist will be released upon meeting bail conditions and assured that the case will proceed to court in line with due process.
