By Adenike Lawal
Controversy is mounting over the continued detention of outspoken activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, despite claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that he has been granted administrative bail.
Otse’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, said the legal team has repeatedly attempted to retrieve the official bail documents from the EFCC without success.
“It appears to be bail only in words, not in action,” Adeyanju said in a public statement, raising concerns about transparency and due process.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale confirmed Otse’s arrest, citing multiple petitions of financial misconduct.
He said the activist had ignored several formal invitations and insisted that the Commission acted within the law with a valid remand order.
Oyewale dismissed claims that the arrest was retaliation for Otse’s frequent criticisms of the agency on social media, saying, “This is not about vendetta. It is about credible allegations that must be investigated.”
Meanwhile, protests have erupted in Abuja, with supporters, legal advocates, and political voices like Peter Obi demanding Otse’s immediate release and condemning the EFCC’s handling of the case as heavy-handed and opaque.
The legal team maintains that unless the bail terms are officially disclosed, the move undermines confidence in Nigeria’s justice system and raises questions about rights and accountability.
