Speak Out Against Unjustified Arrest: Social Media Activist Martins "VeryDarkMan" Otse Remains Detained by EFCC Without Proper Justification
Federal Investigative Agency Has Yet to Reveal Reasons Behind VeryDarkMan's Arrest - As Deji Adeyanju Stands Inquisitive
In a surprising turn of events, human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has called out the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for detaining social media activist, Martins Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), without a formal petition or legal justification.
According to reports from our platform, VDM was arrested last week at a Guaranty Trust Bank branch in Abuja by operatives of the anti-graft agency.
Adeyanju, who visited the activist at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday after returning to the country, claimed that no official complaint or petition had been presented by the commission.
"We still can't fathom why he was arrested. The EFCC said there isn't any petition against him after our repeated demands," he posted on social media.
Notably, the Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL), in a strong statement signed by its President, Abdul Mahmud, criticized the arrest as unlawful and unconstitutional.
"The arrest of Otse, reportedly without a warrant and in a method untransparent, embodies yet another instance of the growing disdain for constitutional safeguards that shield Nigerian citizens from arbitrary state action," the group said.
PILL pointed out Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that no individual should be detained beyond 24 to 48 hours without being charged in court.
The organization accused the EFCC of misusing its mandate by employing state machinery to suppress dissent.
"The continued detention of Otse beyond the constitutionally prescribed limit is an egregious misuse of power and a direct challenge to the rule of law," Mahmud asserted.
He demanded Otse's immediate release or his arraignment before a competent court.
Regarding the EFCC's stance, they maintain that VDM was taken into custody due to multiple petitions alleging financial crimes. However, the agency claims it secured a valid remand order and granted him administrative bail pending fulfillment of conditions.
Yet, questions remain: Is it justifiable for Otse to be detained without any official petitions presented? Or are there hidden agendas and procedural irregularities at play? These controversies persist, necessitating a thorough investigation and transparent communication from the EFCC.
The ongoing detention of VDM has sparked protests in Abuja, with the opposition party, PDP, expressing their concerns. Even as discussions continue, the door remains open for public scrutiny, advocacy, and an unbiased evaluation of the situation.
Stay tuned for updates on this evolving story.
Related Articles:
- "He Shunned Invitations" - Finally, EFCC Reveals Why VeryDarkMan Was Arrested
- DSS To Take Custody Of VeryDarkMan After EFCC, Police Interrogation - Source
- EFCC Set To Release VeryDarkMan
- Update: EFCC Grills VeryDarkMan For Hours
- Why VDM's Arrest Sparked Protests In Abuja - PDP
- EFCC Denies Report On Arrest, Detention Of VeryDarkMan
- Deji Adeyanju, a human rights lawyer, criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for detaining Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, without a formal petition or legal justification.
- The Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL) has labeled the arrest of Otse as unlawful and unconstitutional, accusing the EFCC of misusing its mandate by employing state machinery to suppress dissent.
- The EFCC maintains that VDM was taken into custody due to multiple petitions alleging financial crimes, yet questions remain regarding the lack of official petitions being presented.
- The ongoing detention of VDM has sparked protests in Abuja, with the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressing their concerns.
- PILL points out Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that no individual should be detained beyond 24 to 48 hours without being charged in court.
- The agency claims it secured a valid remand order and granted him administrative bail pending fulfillment of conditions.
- Regarding the EFCC's stance, they also claim that there are ongoing investigations in the general-news and crime-and-justice category related to VeryDarkMan.
