Popular social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of cyber harassment and online intimidation.
Sources within the EFCC disclosed that the arrest followed multiple complaints accusing Otse of using his platforms to harass, insult, and threaten individuals—actions that may contravene Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act of 2015. The identities of the complainants have not been made public.
Otse’s legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the arrest and announced plans to return to Abuja on Monday to secure his client’s release. According to Adeyanju, the EFCC has yet to specify the exact charges against his client.
The arrest has sparked criticism from human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, who described the move as an unlawful attempt to muzzle Otse for allegedly exposing corruption within the EFCC. Sowore insisted that cyber defamation matters are civil in nature and do not fall under the EFCC’s prosecutorial mandate.
While formal charges are expected to be filed soon, efforts to reach the EFCC’s spokesperson for further clarification have so far been unsuccessful.
Otse’s arrest has reignited debates around freedom of expression, online conduct, and the limits of law enforcement authority in cyberspace.
