The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the legal team representing Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, are at odds over his arrest and prolonged detention.
In a statement released at 11:12 am on Tuesday, the EFCC said it arrested Otse after he ignored multiple invitations to respond to petitions accusing him of financial crimes. The commission insisted the allegations were serious and warranted investigation.
“Despite several invitations sent to his known addresses and contact channels, he failed to show up,” the EFCC said.
“We obtained a valid court order to hold him, and he has now been offered bail. He will be released once he meets the conditions.”
The commission also denied claims that the arrest was linked to Otse’s previous social media criticism of the EFCC, calling such suggestions “false”.
Minutes later, at 11:26 am, Otse’s legal representatives from Deji Adeyanju and Partners issued a statement accusing the EFCC of violating their client’s rights. They said the commission had failed to clearly state the charges against Otse, even after four days in detention.
“Our client has not seen any petition or formal charge,” said Omore Igoche, who leads the legal team.
“This continued detention is illegal. The law says no one should be held for more than 24 hours without charge.”
According to the lawyers, EFCC officers questioned Otse about how he spent naira notes at a nightclub, his social media income, tax status and remarks about a gospel artist. They argued that none of these topics justify his continued detention.
They also revealed that another man arrested alongside Otse — Steven Auvira — was released on Friday following their intervention. They are now demanding Otse’s immediate release or a formal arraignment.
The case has generated widespread attention on social media, with many Nigerians questioning the motives behind Otse’s arrest.
In response, the EFCC urged the public to “stop spreading wrong ideas” about its actions. “We appreciate Nigerians’ interest in our work,” it said, “but we ask for patience as investigations continue. Charges will be filed once the process is complete.”
BACKGROUND
Otse, a popular social media commentator, was arrested on Friday after accompanying his mother to a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) branch in Abuja to lodge a complaint about suspicious cash withdrawals from her account. His friend, Stephen Avuara, was also arrested.
Prior to the visit, Otse had posted a video alleging unauthorised transactions on his mother’s bank account. The arrest took place in the presence of his mother shortly after they arrived at the GTB branch in Area 3, Garki.
At 1:19 pm that Friday, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju raised the alarm on social media about Otse’s arrest. His law firm dispatched a team to EFCC headquarters in Abuja to investigate.
While the team requested information on the allegations against their clients, the EFCC only provided an arrest warrant issued by Chief Magistrate Njideka Iloanya-Duru of Wuse Zone 2, for alleged cyberstalking.
