Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and continued detention of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Atiku described the arrest as a sign of growing authoritarianism under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The EFCC confirmed the arrest, stating that it was prompted by multiple petitions accusing Otse of cyberstalking. In a strongly worded statement on social media, Atiku accused the government of misusing security agencies to stifle dissent and intimidate critics. He expressed concern over the lack of formal charges against Otse, calling it a violation of his constitutional rights.
Atiku further criticized the government for its double standards, where opposition figures and critics are targeted while political loyalists with corruption allegations are left untouched. He warned against allowing “state-sponsored repression” to define Nigeria’s democracy, labeling the administration’s crackdown on opposition voices as disgraceful and an affront to democratic norms.
