Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and continued detention of social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as a disturbing abuse of power and a violation of human rights.
The EFCC had confirmed Otse’s arrest over multiple cyberstalking petitions, but his prolonged detention without formal charges has sparked youth-led protests in Abuja and widespread outrage online.
“This is yet another example of the Tinubu administration’s growing authoritarianism,” Atiku posted on X (formerly Twitter). “VDM’s arrest is not only unlawful, but it’s a chilling reminder of this government’s crackdown on free speech and dissent.”
Atiku warned that selective justice and the use of federal agencies to silence critics threaten Nigeria’s democracy, calling on citizens and civil society to resist political repression.
As of the time of this report, the EFCC has not officially responded to Atiku’s remarks, and VDM remains in custody.
