The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will arraign social media activist Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), once formal charges are ready but insists it will not be drawn into a media trial.
The Commission’s position, made public by its head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, appears to signal a deliberate shift away from media speculation.
“There are no charges yet. There are processes, and there are procedures. Let’s get to the river before we cross it,” Mr Oyewale said during an interview with News Central, whose clip was shared on the outlet’s Instagram page on Tuesday.
VDM’s recent arrest by the EFCC generated wide attention on social media, with the public split between those who viewed it as a crackdown on free speech and others who welcomed the investigation into alleged financial infractions.
The activist, known for his social commentary and public face-offs with celebrities and politicians, was detained for six days in April 2025 after he reportedly followed his mother to a GTBank branch in Abuja to complain about unauthorised deductions from her account. He was later released on bail.
The EFCC maintained that the arrest was based on “multiple petitions” submitted to the Commission, although it did not disclose the specific allegations.
“We have calls to invite him and arrest him on several petitions before the Commission,” Mr Oyewale said. “When he met the conditions, we released him.”
The powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate and prosecute alleged financial crimes are grounded in Section 6 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004. The law authorises the Commission to receive and investigate allegations of economic and financial crimes, and to bring suspects before the court where evidence is deemed sufficient.
According to the EFCC Act, the agency is also empowered to coordinate efforts with other regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies in curbing financial offences across Nigeria.
Over the years, critics have accused the Commission of engaging in selective enforcement and using the media to try suspects prematurely.
However, in VDM’s case, the agency appears intent on sticking to procedural standards, emphasising due process rather than sensational exposure.
“When his charges are ready, we will file the charges before the court, and he will be arraigned,” Mr Oyewale added. “By the time the charges are ready, they are filed before the court, and it’s arranged, it will be a public document, and everybody will see it.”
Since his release, Martin Otse has alleged that EFCC officials accessed his phone, logged him out of his iCloud account, and withheld his device. He also accused the agency of threatening to publish his mugshot in connection with an alleged money laundering case, warning that he would take legal action if such information were released without a court conviction.
During the interview, Mr Oyewale declined to comment on the status of VDM’s mobile device. “That should not be a matter to be discussed on national television. We have our operational ways of doing things,” he said.
The case has also sparked debate around digital rights, data privacy, and procedural justice in Nigeria. While EFCC did not confirm or deny accessing the activist’s phone or digital accounts, concerns are growing over the legal framework protecting citizens’ data during criminal investigations.
The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 establishes the conditions under which personal data can be processed, including for law enforcement purposes. The Act mandates that such processing must be necessary, proportionate, and subject to oversight to protect individuals’ rights. These provisions are detailed in the official document available through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission:
