The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, over fresh cybercrime allegations.
His arrest was confirmed on Sunday by a source within the EFCC who spoke under anonymity.
The source stated, “We picked him up based on several complaints that he used his social media platforms to harass, insult, and intimidate individuals — actions that may contravene the Cybercrimes Act of 2015.”
However, the identities of the complainants and further details were not disclosed.
This development adds to a growing list of legal battles involving the controversial internet personality.
The news of his arrest came shortly after he publicly complained at a GTBank branch in Abuja over unauthorized deductions from his mother’s bank account.
Meanwhile, his legal counsel, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the arrest and disclosed that he was preparing to return to Abuja to assist his client.
“I’m currently not in Nigeria, but I’ll be back in Abuja tomorrow (Monday) afternoon. By 4 p.m., we’ll be at the EFCC to secure his bail,”Adeyanju said.
He also noted that the EFCC had not yet formally stated the charges against his client.
This has caused concern among many of VDM’s followers, especially considering his history of legal issues.
In May 2024, he faced five counts of cyberstalking at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Those charges involved allegations of online harassment directed at the Nigeria Police Force and Nollywood actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh.
He denied the charges and awaited a bail hearing while in custody.
Later, in November 2024, VDM was again in court over accusations of impersonation.
Prosecutors alleged he dressed as a police officer.
He also pleaded not guilty in that case and was granted bail in the sum of ₦2 million.
In addition, he was sued in September 2024 by crossdresser Bobrisky for ₦1 billion over defamation.
The case was linked to a voice note VDM shared, accusing Bobrisky of bribing EFCC officers.
Bobrisky, however, denied the allegations and claimed the recording was AI-generated.
Furthermore, in April 2025, a court issued an order for his arrest after he made critical remarks against gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
The court also ordered him to delete the content and apologise publicly.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has spoken out in defense of the influencer.
He claimed the arrest was politically motivated.
“It has become evident that the EFCC unlawfully arrested and detained Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VDM, in a bid to silence him after he accused the agency and its leadership of corruption and misconduct,”Sowore said.
He further argued, “The Commission does not possess the legal mandate to prosecute individuals for criminal defamation, libel, or cybercrime; these are issues typically handled through civil litigation. Therefore, the EFCC must release VDM without delay.”
The EFCC is reportedly preparing formal charges, which may be filed by Monday.
As of press time, efforts to reach EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale were unsuccessful.
While this latest development has sparked concern, many believe that the release of verified statements and legal representation signals progress.
