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Daniel Adaji
Lawyers representing social media personalities Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan(VDM), and Steven Avuara (C-Pack), have accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of human rights violations following their arrest on Thursday, in Abuja.
In a preliminary statement issued by Deji Adeyanju & Partners, the legal team condemned the arrest and detention of the two men, describing the actions of EFCC officers as “a clear breach” of their clients’ constitutional rights.
The duo were reportedly picked up
by operatives of the EFCC when VDM v8sited the Garki, Area 3 branch of Guaranty Trust Bank to sort out the frequent deductions from his mother’s account to service a controversial loan.
“Our clients were arrested at gunpoint, beaten, and blindfolded by men in black uniforms shortly after they exited the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) premises at Garki, Area 3, Abuja,” the lawyers stated. “One of them, Mr. Martins Otse, was so traumatized he refused to see anyone.”
In the statement signed by Zainab Otega for the firm, the lawyers said their clients had gone to the bank to make inquiries about “incessant deductions” from Mrs. Blessing Otse’s account—VDM’s mother. As they tried to leave, the trio was reportedly trapped in a security door for over five minutes before the armed men accosted and assaulted them.
Lawyers Marvin Omorogbe and Steven Eze confirmed their clients’ detention at EFCC’s Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. Upon arrival, they were directed to the Special Duty Committee (SDC) Unit 4, where a certain Mr. Chukwu was identified as the lead officer handling the case.
Although the legal team was denied access to VDM, they met with Mr. Avuara, who detailed the violent circumstances of their arrest. According to him, the EFCC operatives labeled them as “bandits” and threatened to shoot them in front of Mrs. Otse.
The EFCC allegedly failed to inform the detainees of the charges against them. While an arrest warrant for VDM was shown—purportedly issued by Magistrate Njideka Iloanya-Duru on grounds of cyberstalking—no such information was provided to Mr. Avvara.
“Despite several requests, EFCC operatives refused to state the allegation against Mr. Avuara but proceeded to interrogate him. This violates his right to be informed of any charges before questioning,” the lawyers said.
In protest, the legal representatives withdrew from the interrogation and left the EFCC premises.
As of press time, the whereabouts of Mrs. Blessing Otse remain unknown. The firm is calling on the EFCC to respect the constitutionally guaranteed rights of its clients as they continue to engage with the commission.