Social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged violations of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act.

A senior EFCC official, who requested anonymity, confirmed the arrest on Sunday, citing multiple complaints regarding Otse’s online activities.

We picked him up based on several petitions alleging he used his social media platforms to harass, insult, and intimidate individuals conduct that may contravene the Cybercrimes Act of 2015, the official said.

The source, however, declined to name the petitioners or offer further specifics about the nature of the complaints.

Otse is known for his provocative commentary on trending social issues and has had several legal run-ins in recent years.

In May 2024, he was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on five counts of cyberstalking, including allegations involving the Nigeria Police Force and actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing.

Later, in November 2024, he faced fresh charges of impersonation before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court, accused of unlawfully dressing as and presenting himself to be a police officer. He again pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of ₦2 million.

In September 2024, Otse became embroiled in a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit filed by crossdresser Idris Okuneye (Bobrisky) after a voice note circulated online in which VDM alleged that Bobrisky bribed EFCC officials to suppress money laundering charges. Bobrisky denied the claim, stating the voice recording was AI-generated.

By April 2025, Otse’s legal troubles escalated after a court issued a warrant for his arrest over allegedly defamatory remarks made about gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. The court also ordered him to delete the content and issue a public apology.

VDM’s recent arrest followed his public complaint at a GTBank branch in Abuja over unexplained deductions from his mother’s account, further fueling speculation over the EFCC’s motivations.

His legal counsel, Deji Adeyanju, speaking with Vanguard from abroad, confirmed plans to return to Nigeria to secure his client’s release.

I’m currently not in Nigeria, but I’ll be back in Abuja by Monday afternoon. We’ll be at the EFCC headquarters by 4 p.m. to work on securing his bail,” Adeyanju said, adding that the Commission has yet to formally disclose the specific charges.

Meanwhile, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore condemned the arrest, calling it a tactic to silence a vocal critic.

It is now evident that the EFCC unlawfully arrested and detained Martins Vincent Otse, known as VDM, in retaliation for his accusations of corruption within the agency, Sowore said.

The EFCC has no jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for criminal defamation or cyber-related offences of this nature. These are matters for civil litigation. The Commission must release VDM immediately.

As of press time, efforts to reach EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered.

Formal charges against Otse may be filed as early as Monday.