- Safiu Kehinde
Human Rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has claimed that Nigerian social media influencer, Martin Vincent, popularly known as VeryDarkMan was arrested over alleged cyber stalking.
NPO Reported that the activist was yesterday nabbed at a branch of Guarantee Trust Bank (GTBank) where he accompanied his mother to over deductions from her account.
VDM had on Thursday recounted how his mother has been noticing deductions in her salary in settlement of a loan she allegedly took.
The activist would however be arrested by armed men confirmed to be EFCC operatives after being allegedly locked in GTBank’s security door for five minutes.
Recalling the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday Adeyanju and his legal team confirmed that the activist was arrested alongside his friend, Steven Avuara, at GTBank’s Garki Area 3 branch, Abuja.
Further inquiry revealed that a Chief Magistrate, Njideka Ilanya-Duru, issued VDM’s arrest warrant over alleged cyber stalking.
- The activist and his friend were reportedly brutalised and blindfolded beofre being transported to the EFCC’s headquarters at Jabi, Abuja.
The statement read; “Earlier today, May 2, 2025, our attention was drawn to the fact that our clients. Mr. Martins Vincent Otse (AKA Very Dark Black Man) and Mr. Steven Avuara (AKA C-PACK). were arrested by officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), immediately after they exited Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Ltd’s premises at Garki. Area 3, Abuja.
“The legal team disclosed that the duo was detained by officers attached to the Commission’s Special Duty Committee (SDC) Unit 4.
“As narrated by Avuara to the legal team, the EFCC operatives allegedly labelled them and bandits and threatened to shoot them in the presence of VDM’s mother.
“Upon receipt or the information, our Founding Partner, Marvin Omorogbe Esq, and our Associate, Steven Eze, Esq, promptly proceeded to the EFCC Headquarters, Abuja, where they confirmed that our clients were being detained by officers attached to the Commission’s Special Duty Committee (SDC) Unit 4.
“Further inquiries at the SDC Unit 4 led our colleagues to a certain Mr. Chukwu, who was identified as the lead officer in charge of the case.
“Our colleagues subsequently requested access to our clients, but they were informed that Mr. Martins Otse declined to see anybody.
“However, our colleagues were able to see Mr. Avuara, who narrated the circumstances leading to their arrest.
“From our interactive session with Mr. Avuara, we were able to gather that Mr. Martins Otse, his mother, Mrs. Blessing Otse. and Mr. Avuara visited GTB Garki, Area 3, Abuja, to make inquiries about the incessant deductions from Mrs. Otse’s bank account.
“Following the conclusion of the inquiries, they attempted to exit the building, but were locked in the bank’s security door for over five minutes.
“Shortly thereafter, they were accosted at gun point a few metres outside the bank’s premises, beaten and blindfolded by some armed men wearing black uniforms.
“According to Mr. Avuara, Mr. Martins Otse refused to speak with anybody presumably because of the psychological and physical trauma he experienced in the hands of the arresting officers, who labelled them as -bandits- and threatened to shoot them in the presence of Mrs. Otse.
“We were further informed by Mr. Avuara that they were transported to the EFCC’s headquarters at Jabi, Abuja. At the time of this statement, we are unable to confirm the whereabouts of Mrs. Otse.
“We, thereafter, sought to find out (from the EFCC’s officers the exact allegation against Mr. Avuara, having not been able to speak with Mr. Martins Otse.
“Subsequently, we were directed to proceed to an interrogation room. where four EFCC officers, led by Mr. Chukwu, attempted to interrogate Mr. Avuara regarding his relationship with Mr. Martins Otse.
“Despite repeated requests, the EFCC’s officers refused to disclose the specific allegation against Mr. Avuara, but only showed our colleagues an arrest warrant allegedly issued against Mr. Martins Otse by His Worship, Njideka Ilanya-Duru (Mrs). Chief. Magistrate Il, Wuse Zone 2, on the allegation of cyber stalking.
“Regardless of our protest against the procedure adopted by the EFCC officers, which sought to elicit information from Mr. Avuara without first informing him of the allegations against him, the officers still attempted to continue their interrogation of Mr. Avuara.
“In order not to legitimise the clear breach of Mr. Avuara’s constitutional right to be informed of the allegations against him, our colleagues exited the interrogation room and the EFCC Headquarters.
“While we continue to interface with the EFCC on this issue. we call on the commission to respect our clients’ constitutionally guaranteed rights.”