EFCC Labels Rufai Oseni's X Post as Fake News, Sparking Heated Response
posted 5th May 2025
EFCC Labels Rufai Oseni's X Post as Fake News, Sparking Heated Response
Abuja, Nigeria – 5 May 2025
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has branded a recent post by prominent Nigerian journalist Rufai Oseni on the social media platform X as "fake news." The controversy centres on Oseni's claims regarding the arrest of social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), which the EFCC has disputed.
On 5 May 2025, Oseni posted on X, questioning the EFCC's silence on VDM's reported detention. He wrote, "If the EFCC doesn’t release a position on the VDM arrest then what are they hiding. They cannot claim we put out a fake story when the BBC released a position based on a conversation with an EFCC source and many other Nigerian media stations have reported the story." His post suggested that the EFCC's lack of clarity fuelled speculation and implied potential concealment.
The EFCC swiftly responded, with a statement declaring Oseni's claims as misinformation. The agency maintained that the information shared by Oseni was inaccurate, though it did not provide further details on VDM's status or the allegations surrounding his arrest.
Oseni's post referenced reports from reputable outlets, including the BBC, which cited an EFCC source confirming VDM’s detention on allegations of cyberstalking. Nigerian media, including Vanguard News and Daily Post Nigeria, also reported on 2 May 2025 that VDM had been detained, with his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, alleging that the influencer was held alongside a friend after being locked inside a GTB bank exit door for over five minutes to facilitate the arrest.
The dispute has ignited a broader debate about transparency and the EFCC’s handling of high-profile cases. Oseni’s supporters argue that the journalist was merely amplifying credible reports, while critics of his post, aligned with the EFCC, accuse him of spreading unverified claims. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has also weighed in, criticising the EFCC for allegedly overstepping its mandate and failing to respect citizens’ rights, particularly in VDM’s case.
As of now, the EFCC has not issued an official statement clarifying VDM’s status or addressing Oseni’s allegations directly. The lack of a formal response has only intensified public scrutiny, with many on X and beyond questioning the agency’s motives.
