I’ll sue EFCC if they release mugshot of me for alleged money laundering – VDM

Just two days after being released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), well-known activist Martin "VeryDarkMan (VDM)" Otse has spoken out.

According to DOROTV, VDM was arrested and held for six days by the anti-graft agency on suspicion of financial crimes.

Since his release, the activist has remained silent until Friday, when he posted a video on his Instagram page revealing that his mobile phone is still with the EFCC.

He further said that the EFCC shut him out of his iCloud account and threatened legal action against the Commission if it published his mugshot alongside an alleged ‘money laundering’ accusation.

This newspaper also discovered that on the day of his release, VDM claimed he was arrested and jailed on suspicions of money laundering.

He questioned how someone as poor as himself could be involved in such an offence.

He said: “EFCC, now that we’re trying to become friends, let me be honest: what could ruin this new friendship is what I’m about to say. If you (EFCC) release the picture you took of me (the mugshot), and I see ‘money laundering’ written on it, that’s where the problem will start. If we’re going to be friends, where I can help report scammers and other issues, and you arrest and prosecute them, then let’s keep it that way. But if you (EFCC) release my mugshot with ‘money laundering’ on it, you’ll have to prove that charge to Nigerians.

“That might be the first open case we’ll do with every detail posted online. We’ll go to court repeatedly. The EFCC is powerful because it’s the government, but I’ll stress that it damages its reputation and integrity. It will show that many things they post online about people are untrue. They will prove the money laundering; otherwise, it will cast doubt on all the people they’ve arrested and prosecuted for similar charges. If this friendship is genuine, that label, money laundering, has to go. I saw it in detention and told you I would discuss it.”

The activist stated that, subject to certain restrictions, the anti-graft agency may publicize his mugshot along with any charges.

"I won't argue if the charge is tax evasion. But in my opinion, every accusation they make against someone is dubious if it involves money laundering and they can't provide evidence. Like what they did to me, I will regard it as untrue.

"The EFCC now has complete authority over everything on that phone, including a wealth of evidence, since they have logged me out of my iCloud. "I think they don't want me to publish anything from that phone, which is gone," VDM added.

VDM also promised to make public the events at Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank).

He was arrested at GTBank, according to his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, and some of his followers. The bank refuted this claim in a video that showed VDM leaving the building.

According to information obtained by this publication, VDM mentioned on his Instagram page that he was at GTBank with his mother to voice his displeasure over ongoing withdrawals from her account before to his detention last Friday.

Speaking about his plan to disclose what transpired at the bank, he said: “As for GTBank, I’m coming for you too. I will reveal what you people did to the Earth. It’s wild.

"What the hell are they doing?" was my first reaction when I watched the videos you uploaded to the internet. Did they anticipate my death while in EFCC custody?

"The removal of the video by the EFCC is currently the only thing that could salvage GTBank. GTBank is having problems if the videos are still on my phone. Furthermore, the EFCC would have yet another issue if the video had been removed.