- Safiu Kehinde
Human Rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has claimed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is still holding on to the car and phone of Nigerian social media influencer and activist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, despite regaining his freedom.
NPO Reported the release of VDM after five days in EFCC’s custody.
The activist was on Friday apprehended at a Garki branch of Guarantee Trust Bank (GTBank) in Abuja by a group of armed operatives confirmed to be EFCC officials.
He was allegedly locked in the bank’s security door before the arrival of the EFCC officials who whisked him away alongside his friend.
The commission, in defense of his arrest, claimed to have earlier issued several invitations to the activist which he allegedly turned down.
While maintaining that his arrest was not borne out of his criticisms of the commission, the EFCC held that it had the right to hold Verydarkman in custody like any other suspect.
The commission had diclosed that he has been granted administrative bail and will be released when the bail conditions are met.
However, the anti-graft agency’s initial silence over VDM’s detention had led to a three-day protest which took place in several parts of the country.
He would eventually be released yesterday with Adeyanju confirming the development in a post on his X handle.
While Adeyanju had expressed his gratitude to several key players in demand for VDM’s release,.the lawyer also extended his appreciation to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
Reiterating his appreciation to the EFCC boss in a post on his X handle on Thursday, Adeyanju however claimed that VeryDarkMan’s car and phone are still with the anti-graft agency.
“Despite everything that has happened, i still like the EFCC Chairman. And there was no condition for VDM’s bail. I was the one who applied for his bail and I made an undertaking to produce him anytime he is needed. His phone and car still with EFCC.” Adeyanju wrote.