Atiku demands VDM’s release, says arrest is disgraceful

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and detention of social critic, Martins Otse aka Very DarkMan VDM.

In a post shared on his X handle, on Monday, May 5, Atiku said the arrest by the EFCC is another “blatant abuse of power by the Tinubu administration, which has made political repression a hallmark of its rule.”

The opposition leader also lamented that 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.”

Read his statement below‘ ’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.

Even more alarming is the fact that Mr. Otse remains in custody without any formal charges is a flagrant violation of his constitutional rights and a chilling reminder of the growing authoritarianism under this government.

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.Nigerian home decor ideas

We must not allow state-sponsored repression to become the defining character of our democracy.

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.

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. —AA”

Recall that the ongoing controversy surrounding Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) intensifies, prompting customers to close their accounts.

The controversy steemed following the arrest of critic Verydarkman, which made headlines, with the details undisclosed.

Gistreel reported that Verydarkman was arrested in Abuja by security operatives , with reports linking GTB’s involvement in the arrest.

Prior to his arrest, Verydarkman publicly criticized GTB over unauthorized charges deducted from his mother’s account.

In light of the controversy, Lekan Adeyemi, a user on X (formerly Twitter), has announced his decision to close his six GTB accounts and directed his family to follow suit.

He declared the termination of all business dealings with the Guaranty Trust Bank.

His tweet reads, “In solidarity with VDM & mum, I’m closing ALL my 6 accounts with GTBANK asap. By this post, I am instructing my children and family to do same. Anyone who wish to transact business with me using a GTBANK account has failed before starting.General public, please take note”.