The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why it arrested and detained activist Martins Otse, aka VDM.
In an interview with BBC Pidgin on Monday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said VDM was arrested to respond to allegations made against him.
He noted that different individuals had accused him of cyberstalking, and the agency acted in response to the allegations.
“We arrested him to respond to a series of allegations raised against him by some petitioners,” said Oyewale.
VDM was arrested on Friday outside a bank in Abuja shortly after complaining about unauthorised deductions from his mother’s account.
The EFCC spokesperson assured Nigerians that he will be released when he meets bail conditions.
“We will release him when he meets the bail conditions, and we will take the case to court as soon as possible; we are law-abiding.”
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His legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, announced on Sunday that he will visit the EFCC today.
“I have decided to cut my trip short and will be back to Nigeria tomorrow by 4 pm and head straight to EFCC,” Adeyanju told The Guardian.
On Monday, protesters stormed the streets of Abuja to demand his release.
Nigerian singer and Saxophonist, Seun Kuti, says VDM has both religious and political enemies, however, his arrest is a result of his previous controversy with a gospel singer.
Seun Kuti in a video stated that his claim is as a result of the conversation he had with VDM’S lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
“VDM’s lawyer is my lawyer, and we’re currently entangled in a case with GTB and other banks.
“There’s no bank in Nigeria that’s a good bank,” Seun stated.
Seun Kuti also claimed that VDM was a target of religious bodies and authorities.
“As Federal government is running our country, all these big pastors dey run Nigeria. The people of God are the ones fighting VDM for speaking the truth,” he said.
While advocating for his release, Seun emphasised that religious bodies are the ones fighting against VDM.