Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the arrest and continued detention of social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Otse was reportedly arrested following petitions from several individuals alleging cyberstalking, according to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale. His detention has sparked protests in Abuja, with many youths demanding his release and accusing the commission of suppressing dissenting voices.
In a statement shared on his verified Facebook page on Monday, Atiku described the development as “a blatant abuse of power” and “a chilling reminder of the growing authoritarianism under the Tinubu administration.”
“It is even more alarming that Mr. Otse remains in custody without any formal charges. This is a flagrant violation of his constitutional rights,” he said.
Atiku accused the current administration of making political repression a hallmark of its governance, stating that the systematic crackdown on critics and opposition voices is “an affront to democratic norms” and must be “fiercely condemned and resisted.”
