EFCC Confirms Plans to Charge Social Critic 'VeryDarkMan' to Court Over Cyberstalking Allegations

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), will soon face legal proceedings over multiple allegations of cyberstalking.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, in an interview with BBC News Pidgin, stated that Otse was arrested following several petitions accusing him of cyberstalking. Oyewale emphasized that the EFCC is committed to upholding the law and protecting the rights of petitioners. "We arrested him to respond to a series of allegations raised against him by some petitioners. We will release him when he meets the bail conditions, and we will take the case to court as soon as possible. We are law-abiding."

When questioned about any connection to Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), Oyewale clarified that the petitions originated from various individuals and were not related to the bank. This clarification comes after Otse's recent visit to a GTBank branch in Abuja, where he reported an alleged unauthorized deduction from his mother's account.

Otse has previously faced legal challenges. In May 2024, he was arraigned on five counts of cyberstalking, including allegations involving Nigerian actresses and officials. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in police custody until his hearing on May 29, 2024.After two weeks in detention, he was released

In June 2024, Otse was again arrested at his Abuja residence on defamation charges related to a social media expose. He was questioned by police on June 30, 2024, regarding defamation allegations and released shortly after

In March 2025, an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court issued a bench warrant for Otse's arrest following a criminal defamation case brought by gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. The court noted that Otse failed to honor a summons issued on March 5, directing him to appear for the proceeding

Otse has publicly accused the EFCC of attempting to frame him due to his critical stance against the commission's leadership. In a video shared on his Instagram page, he alleged that influential individuals presented the EFCC with materials to incriminate him. The EFCC has not responded to these allegations as of now, Otse remains in custody pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.