Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has decried the continued detection of social media influencer, VeryDarkMan, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Atiku said the detention was a chilling reminder of the growing authoritarianism under President Bola Tinubu.
He described the development as a blatant abuse of power by the administration, saying it is an infringement on the man’s fundamental human rights.
The former vice president’s comments came as scores of youths protested at the Guarantee Trust Bank head office in Abuja against the continued detention of VeryDarkMan.
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Edo State also protested the arrest of two persons in connection with the growing public objection to the detention of the social media influencer.
Atiku stated, ‘’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. It’s 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.”
Atiku said, “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.”
Meanwhile, protesters in Abuja converged at the headquarters of Guaranty Trust Bank to demand the release of VeryDarkMan.
The demonstrators, who gathered in large numbers, chanted “#FreeVDM” while holding placards with inscriptions, such as, “Activism is not a sin”, “VDM is the masses’ liberator”, and “VDM has committed no offence”.
A coalition of civil society groups and human rights activists in Edo State, under the name, Civil Society Community Edo State, protested the continued detention of two human rights activists, Kola Edokpayi and Hadson Oracle.
The protest caused gridlock at the city centre, Oba Ovonramwen Square, and adjoining roads in Benin City
The two were arrested by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) over a plan to organise a march in solidarity with Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso. The demonstration was, reportedly, called off after a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, but the activists were still picked up by DSS and they had been detained since April 30.
The groups said they met with the leadership of the DSS, which promised to release the detained men on Friday, but failed to do so. And to worsen matters, the detained members were denied access to their lawyers, family members, and associates, fuelling speculations that they might have been moved to Abuja.
In a statement by the spokesperson and legal adviser of the group, Rev. David Ugolor, and Abraham Oviawe, respectively, the coalition expressed disappointment that DSS did not meet its promise of releasing their comrades.
The statement said, “This has given rise to growing concerns within our community, especially as it appears that the continued detention may exceed the period permissible under the law.
“We also wish to revisit the understanding reached at the meeting regarding the reasons for the arrest, which we had understood to have been amicably addressed by the Edo State Commissioner of Police.
“We remain concerned about the implications of this development on the longstanding and collaborative relationship between the Civil Society community in Edo State and your esteemed office – a relationship that has been built over the years on mutual respect and open dialogue.
“In light of this, we respectfully request an update on the current status of Mr. Edokpayi and Mr. Oracle, including confirmation of any transfer, as is being speculated in some quarters.
“We would also appreciate clarity on any plans concerning their possible release.”