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By Myke Agunwa
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has joined other Nigerians to demand the release of Social Media activists, Martins Otse popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM) lamenting that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is a hallmark of repression against critics while political loyalists with credible allegations of corruption walk free.
VDM was arrested last week at the premises of Guarantee Trust Bank Abuja by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), when he went to lodge a complaint about some unauthorized deduction on his mother’s account.
While his supporters are of the view that he was arrested because he called out the banks over series of unauthorized deductions and hidden charges on customers account, the security agencies said that he was picked up for alleged cyberstalking.
The bank also said that VDM was not arrested in their premises and release a CCTV footage showing when he left the banking hall to the car park.
Following the arrest, several groups have commenced protest at the premises of the bank, demanding for his unconditional release.
Prominent Nigerians including the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP) in 2023, Mr Peter Obi condemned the gestapo method employed by EFCC during his arrest, adding that a simple invitation could have doused the controversy surrounding his arrest.
Joining the call for his release, Atiku in series of tweets via his verified X handle on Monday stated, “The arrest and continued detention of social media influencer and outspoken critic, Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is yet another blatant abuse of power by the Tinubu administration, which has made political repression a hallmark of its rule.
“Even more alarming is the fact that Mr. Otse remains in custody without any formal charges is a flagrant violation of his constitutional rights and a chilling reminder of the growing authoritarianism under this government.
“This latest episode is part of a disturbing pattern: the Tinubu regime’s relentless assault on the fundamental freedoms of Nigerians, particularly those who dare to speak truth to power or align with the political opposition.
“We must not allow state-sponsored repression to become the defining character of our democracy.
“While security agencies are quick to target dissenters and critics, often in complete disregard of due process, political loyalists with credible allegations of corruption walk free, trading sycophancy for immunity.
“The Tinubu administration’s systematic crackdown on opposition voices is nothing short of disgraceful. It is an affront to democratic norms and must be fiercely condemned and resisted” he wrote.