Primate Ayodele Condemns VDM's Arrest, Demands His Immediate Release
- Popular Nigerian cleric, Primate Ayodele, has openly condemned the arrest of VeryDarkMan by the nation's anti-graft agency
- The activist was detained by EFCC operatives after visiting a GTBank branch, sparking outrage from human rights defenders and online supporters
- Ayodele condemned the action, invoking constitutional rights in what he described as an attack on freedom of speech
Prominent Nigerian spiritual leader, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has publicly criticized the recent arrest of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
VDM was apprehended on Friday in Abuja, where he had gone to address concerns over unauthorized debits from his mother's account.
Source: Instagram
EFCC officials arrest VDM at GTBank
His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, reported that the arrest was executed by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who detained him without providing clear reasons for the action.
In a statement shared on his official Twitter account, Primate Ayodele expressed dismay over the incident, asserting that every Nigerian has the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
Source: Facebook
He emphasized that silencing activists through arrests is detrimental to democratic principles..
"Everyone has a right to their voice. In the Nigerian Constitution, Section 39 guarantees the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference," Ayodele stated.
EFCC scheming to charge critic to court - Yele
The arrest has sparked widespread reactions across social media platforms, with many Nigerians expressing outrage and demanding VDM's release.
Activist Omoyele Sowore alleged that the EFCC plans to charge VDM in court on Monday to legitimize his detention, a move he described as an attempt to suppress dissent.
As of now, the EFCC has yet to issue an official statement regarding the circumstances surrounding VDM's arrest.
The situation continues to draw attention from civil society groups and the general public, who are closely monitoring developments and advocating for the protection of individual rights and freedoms in Nigeria
APC gives VeryDarkMan one week to apologize
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the South-South chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had issued a stern warning to popular social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan, demanding that he tender an apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio within one week.
The warning, conveyed in a statement by Blessing Agbomhere, Zonal Organizing Secretary of the South-South APC, came after VeryDarkMan released a viral video sharply criticizing Akpabio’s recent trip to the Vatican
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Source: Legit.ng
