The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the arrest and detention of social media influencer and social justice activist Mr Martins Vincent Otse, also known as Very Dark Man (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The rights group accused the anti-graft agency of overstepping its jurisdiction by acting as the “enforcer” and “bouncers” for a bank accused of extortion by a customer.
HURIWA stated that the EFCC, as a body established by law, ought to protect the alleged victim of the bank’s extortion instead of acting as the bank’s protector. The group described this as “very unfortunate” and “an unmitigated illegality” on the part of the EFCC.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA warned that the frequent use of the Cybercrime Act by security and law enforcement agencies to target activists and media practitioners based on frivolous petitions by powerful and wealthy Nigerians constitutes an abuse of power.
The group criticised the EFCC for allowing itself to be used by a bank to detain someone who only visited a branch to inquire about alleged unauthorised deductions from his mother’s account.
HURIWA expressed concern over why the EFCC appears to believe that bank customers lack the legal or human right to seek redress when their rights as customers are flagrantly breached.
It further questioned whether the EFCC exists to defend the wealthy while intimidating and harassing ordinary citizens, arbitrarily using its detention facilities to suppress complaints against banks.
“We in HURIWA are shocked beyond comprehension as to why the EFCC is quick to arrest persons perceived as less powerful and law-abiding citizens whose actions do not constitute any anti-graft offences, such as this arbitrary and illegal arrest of Very Dark Man, who, as far as the facts indicate, did nothing to justify the contrived warrant from the so-called Magistrate’s Court accusing him of violating the Cybercrime Act,” Onwubiko said.
He added, “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended in Chapter 4, guarantees citizens fundamental freedoms of expression. This was the right exercised by Very Dark Man when he peacefully and non-violently visited the GTB Bank branch to inquire about why his mother was allegedly subjected to illegal deductions by the bank. His arrest is a total abuse of power and office.”
HURIWA maintained that disputes between bank customers and banks do not amount to cyberbullying or anti-graft offences. It also criticised the EFCC for overlooking massive financial crimes allegedly committed by influential individuals, particularly those connected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The group argued that the EFCC is often in a rush to arrest “smaller persons” while ignoring significant cases of corruption involving top government officials.
“Nigerians are mystified and disappointed that cases of massive theft of public funds by key functionaries of the immediate past President Buhari’s administration, such as those in the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry, are not attracting the EFCC’s attention. Yet, the EFCC is swift to arrest less powerful individuals. We demand the immediate release of Very Dark Man,” he added.
HURIWA further lamented that the EFCC allegedly refused to clarify the reasons for Otse’s detention, even when his legal representatives inquired. According to the lawyers under the auspices of Deji Adeyanju and Partners, the EFCC only showed them an arrest warrant allegedly issued by Njideka Iloanya-Duru (Mrs), Chief Magistrate II, Wuse Zone 2, on the allegation of cyberstalking.
HURIWA demanded Otse’s immediate release, arguing that he should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise by a competent court of law. The group asserted that the detainee is entitled to a fair hearing as guaranteed by the Constitution and should not be detained for exercising his fundamental rights as a citizen.
