EFCC set to release VeryDarkMan today

There are strong indications that social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, may regain his freedom on Tuesday following days in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Sources within the agency revealed to The Nation that while Otse has not yet been formally arraigned, plans are underway to charge him to court on Thursday.

A senior EFCC official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the development on Monday, stating that the influencer remains in custody but could be released ahead of his scheduled court appearance.

VeryDarkMan was recently arrested by the EFCC over allegations of cyberstalking.

His legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, who confirmed Otse’s arrest on X, said a team of policemen arrested VDM along with his friend, C Park.

Scores of youths on Monday took to the streets of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to protest the arrest of the activist.

The protesters, who marched from the headquarters of EFCC to the premises of a 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.