Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and continued detention of popular social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), describing it as “yet another blatant abuse of power” by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement on his X account on Monday, Atiku denounced the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for detaining Otse without formal charges, calling it a gross violation of his constitutional rights and a worrying sign of rising authoritarianism in Nigeria.
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The arrest and continued detention of social media influencer and outspoken critic, Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is yet another blatant abuse of power by the Tinubu administration, which has made political repression a hallmark of its rule,” Atiku said.
Otse, known for his fearless commentary and critique of the political establishment, has reportedly been held by the EFCC for days without access to legal representation or clear information about any charges against him.Atiku warned that such actions by security agencies pose a significant threat to democratic governance and freedom of expression in the country.
“Even more alarming is the fact that Mr. Otse remains in custody without any formal charges. This is a flagrant violation of his constitutional rights and a chilling reminder of the growing authoritarianism under this government,” he said.
The former presidential candidate did not mince words in accusing the Tinubu government of engaging in a systematic campaign to silence dissent, especially from individuals aligned with opposition movements or critical of the administration.
“This latest episode is part of a disturbing pattern: the Tinubu regime’s relentless assault on the fundamental freedoms of Nigerians, particularly those who dare to speak truth to power or align with the political opposition,” Atiku added.
He further criticized what he described as the government’s double standards in its so-called anti-corruption war, suggesting that political allies of the administration enjoy immunity while critics are targeted.
“While security agencies are quick to target dissenters and critics, often in complete disregard of due process, political loyalists with credible allegations of corruption walk free, trading sycophancy for immunity,” he noted.
Atiku called on Nigerians and the international community to resist the creeping authoritarianism and defend the core tenets of democracy, including freedom of speech and lawful dissent.
“We must not allow state-sponsored repression to become the defining character of our democracy… The Tinubu administration’s systematic crackdown on opposition voices is nothing short of disgraceful. It is an affront to democratic norms and must be fiercely condemned and resisted,” he declared.
In latest development, spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, told BBC News Pidgin on Monday that the activist was taken into custody following “a series of allegations raised against him by some petitioners.”
Oyewale assured that the activist (VDM) will be released “when he meets the bail conditions and we will take the case to court as soon as possible; we are law-abiding.”
, describing it as “yet another blatant abuse of power” by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.){kind=link}