#RevolutionNow convener and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a public statement released on Sunday, Sowore alleged that the EFCC acted outside the boundaries of its legal mandate by arresting VDM over his accusations against the agency and its leadership. He claimed the detention was aimed at silencing the critic for exposing alleged corruption and misconduct within the Commission.
“It has been established that the EFCC unlawfully arrested and detained Martins Vincent Otse aka VDM, as a means to silence him for accusing the agency and its leaders of corruption and malfeasance,” Sowore stated.
He further revealed that the EFCC is reportedly considering arraigning Otse in court as early as Monday, in what he described as an attempt to legitimize an illegal arrest. Sowore, however, maintained that the anti-graft agency has no jurisdiction to prosecute matters such as criminal defamation, libel, or cybercrime.
“The EFCC is currently exploring legal avenues to charge him to court, possibly tomorrow, in an attempt to legitimize their actions.
“Nevertheless, it is essential to state unequivocally that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission does not possess the authority to prosecute individuals for criminal defamation, criminal libel, or cybercrime, as these are torts that are typically addressed through civil lawsuits. As a result, the EFCC must release VDM immediately.”
As of the time of this report, the EFCC has not issued an official response to the allegations or confirmed any scheduled court proceedings.
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