The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that it is currently investigating Martins Vincent Otse aka VeryDarkMan following multiple petitions accusing him of financial misconduct. Despite several attempts to engage him through official channels, EFCC reports that VDM had failed to respond to the Commission’s invitations for questioning.
According to the EFCC’s official statement, the allegations against VDM are serious, involving financial malfeasance that the commission cannot overlook. However, they clarified that his arrest was not due to any public criticism of its operations, but rather a necessary step in investigating the claims against him.
VDM is currently in EFCC custody under a legal remand order, although he has been reportedly offered administrative bail, which means he could be released once he meets the required conditions. The EFCC has called on Nigerians to refrain from drawing conclusions about Otse’s guilt or innocence. The Commission emphasized that it is committed to upholding the rule of law and carrying out its responsibilities without fear or favor.
While the public has shown significant interest in the case with lots of protests all over the country, demanding for his release, the EFCC has urged Nigerians to allow the Commission to carry out its investigation without interference, announcing that once the investigation is complete, the appropriate charges will be filed. It also reiterated that its ongoing probe is strictly based on the content of the petitions received and the failure of the suspect to respond to formal invitations—not his verbal attacks on the Commission.
VDM, a fitness trainer turned social media activist, gained massive popularity for his candid commentary on social issues, often taking on high-profile individuals and institutions. Known for his direct, unfiltered style, VDM built a following that both celebrates his boldness and questions his methods.
In 2024, he launched the Martins Vincent Otse Initiative, an NGO focused on supporting education in underserved communities. The initiative drew millions of naira in donations shortly after launch, including a ₦100 million pledge from a popular Nigerian music producer. These generous inflows were seen by many as a vote of confidence in his vision, but they also set the stage for scrutiny over his financial transparency.
VDM’s growing public profile has been shadowed by a wave of legal challenges and controversies. In December 2024, he announced via social media that ₦180 million was stolen from his NGO’s account due to a supposed cyberattack. He claimed the suspect had been apprehended and that police were investigating. However, both the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Plateau State Police Commands publicly denied any knowledge of the case, raising serious questions about the authenticity of his claims and the fate of the donated funds.
In March 2025, VDM faced a ₦1.1 billion defamation lawsuit from gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. She accused him of spreading damaging falsehoods about her financial dealings and her former record label on social media. The case, which generated considerable public interest, is still ongoing in court, and Otse has been formally summoned to respond to the allegations.
VeryDarkMan also found himself in hot water after a viral video surfaced showing him dressed in a police uniform. Authorities charged him with impersonating a police officer—a criminal offense under Nigerian law. He was subsequently granted bail set at ₦2 million with stringent conditions, including the provision of two sureties residing within the Federal Capital Territory.
In September 2024, hestirred yet another controversy when he posted a video alleging that EFCC officials demanded a ₦15 million bribe to drop money laundering charges against a fellow influencer, Bobrisky. Although Bobrisky denied the bribery claims and labeled the audio recording as fake, the EFCC opened an internal investigation and invited both parties to provide statements. That case remains unresolved.
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