VeryDarkMan: A pain to many

By Benjamin Njoku

His name didn’t ring a bell with some social media users before now. But suddenly, Martins Vincent Otse popularly known as VeryDarkMan ,VDM, has become a formidable force in the Nigerian digital space.

In fact, the fear of VDM is the beginning of wisdom, as many of his victims, whom he has dragged on social media platforms for one reason or the other, will live to tell their stories in a hard way.

For some, VDM is a refreshing and fearless crusader, while others see the Edo state born social media activist as an enemy of society,who’s propagating hate, provocation and intolerance. But like him or hate him, VDM remains the new conscience of the society, whose mission is to fight against injustice no matter whose ox is gored as well as helping others. Since his emergence on the digital space a few months back, VDM has fought many fearless battles, stepped on many toes and ended up cooling his feet in the police custody.

His boldness has earned him a large following on social media, having been using his platform to speak out against social injustices and hypocrisy. Though his modus operandi may have been called into question, with many accusing him of normalizing hate and toxicity. But VDM is highly unrepentant of his provocative videos, statements and commentaries on social media.

One of his most recent and widely publicized confrontations was his battle with Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin, founder and head prophet of MercyLand Deliverance Ministry, Warri, Delta State. His feud with the Prophet stemmed from the commercialization of religious items, with VDM accusing Jeremiah of exploiting his followers by selling items such as miracle water and soap which he claimed could perform miracles.

The clash quickly escalated, drawing supporters and detractors from both sides, to a point that the prophet threatened a N1bn lawsuit against the popular social critic, which he later dropped, after VDM stormed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) office, where he filed a complaint against Prophet Jeremiah’s products. Eventually, the clergyman was forced to reverse his decision to sell his popular miracle water and soap to his church members again.

VDM’s latest battle, which is currently making headlines has do with the viral audio he released on Instagram days back, where the controversial cross-dresser Bobrisky was said to have bribed some unnamed EFCC operatives with N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him, prior to his being sent to prison for abuse of the naira.

The allegation has since gone viral, drawing the attention of both the government and the different professional bodies and agencies, including the EFCC, who has constituted a team of investigators to look into the allegations.

This is even as popular rapper, Folarin Falana, aka Falz and his human rights lawyer-father, Femi Falana, who are also joined in the saga have threatened legal action against the fearless VDM. Both father and the son are demanding a retraction within 24 hours of VeryDarkMan’s remarks insinuating that Falz and his father were going to procure presidential pardon for convicted Bobrisky. However, responding to the threat, VDM denied defaming Femi Falana, saying “Uncle Femi Falana is someone that I respect 100 per cent, not because of his position as a SAN but because of what he has used the position to do, representing people like me that speak against ills in the society”. On Falz, VDM said, ”I expected you to address your letter to Bobrisky that called your name in that recording and not to me. I did not defame you”

Not long ago, VDM also called out the likes of Iyabo Ojo, Tonto Dikeh, Ashumsy among others that sparked uncontrollable reactions on social media. In the case of Ashumsy, a social media influencer who received N1 million from a small businessman for advertising services but failed to deliver, VDM called her out on social media, which forced her to return the money unconditionally, while crying and begging the social crusader to let her be. Indeed, many are wondering about the role VDM has assigned to himself as another Shakespare’s ‘Daniel’ in Merchant of Venice that has come to judgment.

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