Peter Obi Rages Over VDM’s Arrest

Former Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has condemned the manner at which the popular social media critic, Martin Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, VDM, was arrested by security operatives.

Reports indicated that VDM was arrested on Friday shortly after he visited a Guaranty Trust Bank, GTBank branch in Abuja to complain about alleged unauthorized transactions from his mother’s account.

He was subsequently detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, according to his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.

Reacting, Obi in a statement on Sunday, said perhaps the arrest was within the legal rights of security agencies but it was “carried out in a manner that left many Nigerians unsettled”.

Obi said the “display of force, lacking in transparency and civility, closely resembled an abduction, a disturbing method that not only creates fear but also risks being mimicked by criminal elements.

“If Nigerians begin to struggle to distinguish between legitimate arrests and unlawful abductions, we will lose a vital layer of national security and accountability.

“This trend is not new. We must recall that even our esteemed judges, the last line of defence for justice, have suffered similar indignities in recent years.

“When those who interpret the law are treated with such disregard, it is difficult to expect that ordinary citizens will feel protected under the law.

“Moreover, these methods are beginning to affect our economy and business environment. The backlash directed at GTBank, allegedly linked to the circumstances surrounding Mr. Otse’s arrest, has had serious reputational consequences.

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“At a time when investor confidence is already fragile, we must do all we can to avoid actions that tarnish institutions or undermine the trust of both citizens and the international community.

“One cannot help but ask: was it impossible to invite Mr. Otse in a civil, transparent, and legal manner? Would that not have spared Nigerians, GTBank, and our national image the unnecessary shame and losses we now witness?”