Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
After spending five days in its custody, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Wednesday, released Social media activist, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
His arrest sparked a spontaneous protest in Abuja and national outrage.
Former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, announced VDM’s release via his X handle, on Wednesday.
Sowore wrote: “Thanks to unrelenting efforts of all @thatverydarkman has been released from unjust detention at the @officialEFCC. He is with his ebullient lawyer, @adeyanjudeji,” Sowore tweeted.
VeryDarkMan’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, had earlier expressed frustration over the EFCC’s handling of the bail process, describing it as “social media bail” since the commission had not issued formal bail documents despite announcing that his client had been granted administrative bail.
“Bail granted VDM, social media bail, as we are yet to receive any bail document from the Commission. We have made several repeated demands in this regard since yesterday, when we were informed about the decision to grant bail,” Adeyanju said.
Recall that EFCC, had in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday, confirmed that VeryDarkMan had been granted bail but remained in custody pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
The statement said that the activist was invited for questioning over multiple petitions alleging serious financial crimes.
