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By Myke Agunwa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has granted an administrative bail to the detained social media activist, Martins Innocent Otse popularly called VeryDarkMan (VDM).
The commission in a statement on Tuesday said VDM has now been offered administrative bail and will leave when he fulfills his bail conditions.
EFCC reiterated that VDM was arrested after he repeatedly ignored several invitations sent to his known addresses and communication channels, prompting law enforcement action following multiple petitions alleging serious financial misconduct against him.
The EFCC stated that the petitions detailed grave allegations of financial crimes against VDM that warrant thorough investigation.
The EFCC affirmed its legal right to detain any suspect under investigation and revealed that a valid Remand Order was obtained to keep VDM in custody.
EFCC confirmed that he has since been offered administrative bail and will be released upon meeting the conditions.
The statement read, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the exercise of its mandate of tackling economic and financial crimes, invited Martins Innocent Otse owing to a series of petitions bordering on sundry issues of alleged financial crimes raised against him. He refused to show up in spite of several invitations sent to him through his known addresses and medium of communication. The petitions pertain to grave allegations of financial malfeasance which cannot be ignored by the Commission.
“It is needful to admit that the Commission is aware of several unguarded attacks of the suspect against its operations. While such conduct is condemnable, his arrest was not informed by such attacks. The relevant law enforcement agency will be allowed to look into them.
“The EFCC has a lawful right to hold Otse in custody like any other suspect being investigated by the Commission. The appropriate Remand Order was obtained in this regard. He has been offered an administrative bail and would be released after fulfilling all the bail conditions.
“The Commission appreciates the interest of Nigerians in its operations. The passion, enthusiasm and torrential reactions to all of its activities are welcome. However, insinuations about its motive in carrying out its assignment should no longer continue.
“The EFCC should be allowed to do its job without fear or favour. As soon as investigations are concluded, charges will be filed,” the statement added.
However, counsel to VDM and human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, had on Monday stated that there was no official petition filed against VDM, countering the position of the anti-graft agency and raising questions over the legality of his detention.
He expressed serious concerns over the agency’s failure to provide justification for his arrest, which according to Adeyanju, lacks any legal foundation.
“We still cannot understand why he was arrested. EFCC said there’s no petition against him after our repeated demand” Adeyanju disclosed on his Social Media handle.
The activist, known for his controversial commentaries on social issues and public figures in Nigeria, was reportedly picked up at Guarantee Trust Bank in Abuja by EFCC operatives after he came to the bank with his mother to lay a complaint over some illegal deductions in her account.
Adeyanju, a vocal advocate for civil liberties, accused the EFCC of engaging in what he described as “arbitrary detention” and called for the immediate release of his client.
Following his arrest, some youths on Monday took to the streets of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to protest his arrest and continued detention.
The protesters, who marched from the headquarters of EFCC to the premises of the commercial bank where he was reportedly arrested, held placards with inscriptions such as “Release Very Dark Man,” and “Seyi Tinubu, Are You Involved?,” among others.
They described VDM’s arrest and detention as illegal and demanded transparency from the authorities as they vowed to take their grievance to the Nigerian Human Rights Commission, in the Maitama district of the nation’s capital.
Some notable Nigerians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in his X handlle described that arrest of VDM as a manifestation of the autocratic rule of President Tinubu and called for his immediate release.
Peter Obi the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in 2023 condemned the way and manner the security operatives arrested him, saying that such crude method may send the wrong message to criminals on how to attack unsuspecting public.