By Adewunmi Oluwaseun
Controversy has continued to trail the detention of popular activist Martin ‘Verydarkman’ Otse, as his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, insisted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has not formally granted his client bail, contrary to the agency’s claims.
Adeyanju, who confirmed that VDM was arrested at a Guaranty Trust Bank branch in Abuja, challenged EFCC’s earlier statement that Otse had been granted administrative bail.
“Bail granted VDM? That’s social media bail. We’ve received no document,” he stated on Facebook.
He further disclosed that while another detainee, Steven Avuara, was released after being granted bail, VDM remains in EFCC custody and was subjected to lengthy interrogation on Monday, May 5, in the presence of a legal representative.
According to a statement from Adeyanju’s law firm, the EFCC has yet to inform VDM of the specific allegations against him.
Instead, officers questioned him over issues ranging from the handling of Naira notes in a club to the monetisation of his social media accounts, his public commentary on gospel artists, and his source of income.
Adeyanju described the continued detention as a violation of VDM’s constitutional rights.
“This appears to be a case of arrest first, search for evidence later,” he said, demanding the activist’s immediate release or arraignment.
He also appreciated Nigerians for staging protests and urged them to remain peaceful, stressing the importance of lawful expression in a democratic society.
As the protests spread across Abuja and other states, public attention on the case continues to mount, with growing concerns over what many are calling “detention without justification.”
