Nigeria: VeryDarkMan’s bail saga: Lawyer laments difficulty in securing release
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
The lawyer representing Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has expressed frustration over the challenges in securing his client’s release from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody. Despite being granted administrative bail, VeryDarkMan remains in detention pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.
The EFCC had invited VeryDarkMan for questioning over multiple petitions alleging serious financial crimes. According to the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, VeryDarkMan was arrested after consistently failing to honor repeated invitations. Oyewale emphasized that the EFCC has a lawful right to hold Otse in custody like any other suspect being investigated.
VeryDarkMan’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has lamented the difficulty in accessing the documents detailing the bail conditions. Despite repeated efforts, Adeyanju’s team has been unable to obtain the necessary documents, leading to concerns about the transparency of the process.
The arrest of VeryDarkMan has sparked widespread criticism, with many calling for his release. Supporters have protested at the GTB headquarters in Abuja, and notable figures like Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential candidate for the 2025 election, have also condemned his arrest.
The situation highlights the complexities of the relationship between the EFCC and individuals under investigation. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the EFCC will proceed with its investigation and whether VeryDarkMan will be able to fulfill the bail conditions to secure his release.
