Activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has responded sharply to a petition filed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) calling for an investigation into his financial activities and those of his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
The Allegations
The petition, reportedly authored by Blessing Agbomhere an APC member from Etsako, Edo State alleges that VDM and Adeyanju are being sponsored to fight against "bad governance." The petition suggests that their highly organized and organic protests are a front for sponsoring terrorism, with the ultimate goal of disrupting the current administration.
VDM’s Response
Sharing the document publicly, VDM dismissed the allegations as a baseless attempt to suppress dissent. He argued that the petition is not about genuine financial accountability but is instead a political tactic designed to silence his criticism of a "failed government" that has not adequately protected Nigerian lives.
“They want to stop us from speaking against this evil government that has failed to protect the lives of Nigerians, so they used their people to write petitions,” VDM stated. He alleged that political actors are uncomfortable with the scale and success of the protests he has mobilized and are now attempting to frame him as a threat to national security to justify state intimidation.
VDM maintains that his advocacy remains focused on demanding change and that these maneuvers by government supporters are evidence of their inability to address the actual concerns raised by the public regarding governance and insecurity.
The Petition
