Veteran journalist and human rights activist, Sir Richard Akinnola II, has condemned the arrest and continued detention of popular social media personality Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, describing it as unlawful and a violation of his fundamental rights.
Akinnola expressed his views in a post on his Facebook page, stressing that even individuals accused of serious crimes are entitled to due process under the law.
“I don’t have details of this VDM saga because things were muddled up on social media. But I just read something where the EFCC spokesperson said he is in their custody over a series of petitions against him. I’m not a fan of the guy, but that is immaterial,” he wrote.
“Any abridgment of rights should be condemned. It’s been over 24 hours since he was arrested. He ought to be granted bail or charged to court. Like I often say, even an armed robber is entitled to his rights until found guilty by a court.”
Akinnola’s comments follow the arrest of VDM by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which reportedly took him into custody in response to multiple petitions from members of the public.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, while addressing friends and associates of the detained activist in the early hours of Monday, stated that the commission is open to releasing him once his bail conditions are fulfilled.
“We will release him if he meets his bail conditions, and we will take the case to court as soon as possible,” Oyewale said.
He confirmed that the arrest stemmed from “a series of allegations raised against him by some petitioners,” which necessitated the agency’s action.
