Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged cyberstalking activities, FCNN has learned.
An EFCC insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrest on Sunday. According to the source, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VDM was apprehended following multiple complaints accusing him of using his social media platforms to harass, insult, and intimidate individuals — actions that may violate the Cybercrimes Act of 2015.
The EFCC has not yet disclosed the identities of the complainants or the specific details of the allegations.
VDM, known for his bold and controversial online commentary, has faced several legal challenges in the past.
In May 2024, he was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja on five counts of cyberstalking, following alleged harassment of the Nigeria Police Force and Nollywood actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded until a bail hearing.
In another case from November 2024, VDM was charged with impersonation for allegedly dressing as and presenting himself as a police officer. He again pleaded not guilty and was granted bail set at ₦2 million.
In September 2024, he was sued for ₦1 billion by crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, over a voice recording in which VDM alleged Bobrisky bribed EFCC officials to drop money laundering charges. Bobrisky denied the allegations, claiming the recording was AI-generated.
Most recently, in April 2025, a court issued a warrant for VDM’s arrest following defamatory remarks he allegedly made against gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
The court also ordered him to delete the content and issue a public apology.
VDM’s legal counsel, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the arrest to Vanguard on Sunday.
He stated that he would return to Abuja from abroad to work on securing VDM’s release, following a recent public complaint the influencer made at a GTBank branch in Abuja over unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account.
“I’m currently not in Nigeria, but I’ll be back in Abuja tomorrow (Monday) afternoon. By 4 p.m., we’ll be at the EFCC to secure his bail,” Adeyanju said, adding that the Commission had yet to formally specify the charges.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has condemned the arrest, claiming it was an effort to silence VDM for exposing alleged corruption within the EFCC.
“This unlawful arrest is clearly a move to intimidate Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, after he accused the EFCC and its leadership of corruption and misconduct,” Sowore said.
He also argued that the EFCC lacks the legal authority to prosecute for defamation or related offences, which typically fall under civil law.
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As of Sunday, the EFCC was reportedly preparing formal charges, possibly to be filed as early as Monday. Attempts to contact EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale for comment were unsuccessful.
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