On the 2nd of May 2025, Social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (dVDM), went into Guaranty Trust Bank Limited ((GT Bank) in Abuja with his mother to investigate and resolve issues on why his mother's account is being fraudulently deducted as a repayment for a loan that she is unaware of its existence ; this was after VDM had raised a public awareness of the issue and actually exhibited his presence with his mother at a GTBank branch in Abuja regarding the issue . As VDM was leaving the GT Bank, he and his friend were forcefully abducted with a covering over their head by men who called themselves DSS, and they were beaten to give them their mobile password as disclosed by his friend who was released that night with injury on his leg , but VDM still held in custody by people that are now identified as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC);
What does not make sense is up till now the Monday the 5th of May 2025, the EFCC commission has not stated the reason for the act of unlawful arrest of VDM. Though Vanguard states "A source within the EFCC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrest on Sunday, stating: "We picked him up based on several complaints that he used his social media platforms to harass, insult, and intimidate individuals — actions that may contravene the Cybercrimes Act of 2015....Meanwhile, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore condemned the arrest, describing it as an attempt to silence VeryDarkMan for exposing alleged corruption within the EFCC. "It has become evident that the EFCC unlawfully arrested and detained Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VDM, in a bid to silence him after he accused the agency and its leadership of corruption and misconduct. “The Commission does not possess the legal mandate to prosecute individuals for criminal defamation, libel, or cybercrime; these are issues typically handled through civil litigation. Therefore, the EFCC must release VDM without delay,” Sowore said. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/05/why-verydarkman-was-arrested-by-efcc-sources/
RAP- Nigeria recognises VDM as an activist with a special CALL to be a "voice for the voiceless" in Nigeria and fearlessly outspoken in addressing institutional and inhumane violation issues which has led to several run-ins with the law due to certain individual complaints regarding the nature of what they call Cyberstalking. In the last week, VDM was outspoken as he would normally do with issues, he said EFCC agency and its leadership are of the act of corruption and misconduct. Which they have freely proven to the world with the way they forcefully abducted him and his friend with a covering over their head and beaten claiming to be DSS. An act that risks being copied by criminals, which should not to be seen or heard of a government agency commissioned.
This forceful abduction of VDM by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ( incorporated with an act in 2002 and with an amendment in 2004). in collaboration with Guaranty Trust Bank Limited (GT Bank action with an intent of covering up a fraudulent act and disregard of duty care to its customers) is a serious violation of 13 out of 30 UDHR Articles as in
Article 3 Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 5 No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6 Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Article 7 All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 9 No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 11 Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
Article 12 No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13 Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
Article 19 Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 21 Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
Article 22 Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 29 Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Article 30 Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
RAP- - Nigeria will like to reinstate that individuals as VDM are Human rights activists, and defenders, who work to promote and protect human rights like organisations . They should not be silenced in any form/way of activism to raise awareness, advocate for policy changes, and hold governments and organizations accountable for human rights violations. Their efforts are crucial for advancing social justice and security equality that is needed in Nigeria today. There's a consequence in violation of Human Rights directly or indirectly as it's said that within 48 hours over 100,000 Nigerians have closed down their Guaranty Trust Bank Limited (GT Bank) accounts and their branches will be closed for 4 days in fear of their staff safety from reaction of citizens. Any victim as VDM who has been abducted, arrested or in detention in contravention of the provisions of this UDHR Articles shall have an enforceable right to compensation with dignified freedom.
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