Social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has agreed to honour the invitation of the Nigeria Police Force after the investigation was transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Force Headquarters, Abuja.
However, his lawyers have called for a transparent and credible process, stressing that the investigation must be conducted in a way that builds public confidence.
The development follows growing public attention surrounding the matter, with legal practitioners and members of the public calling for fairness and impartiality in the investigation.
In a statement released on Wednesday, law firm Deji Adeyanju & Partners said VDM welcomed the police decision to investigate the issues he raised and reaffirmed his willingness to cooperate with lawful authorities.
“Our client has never opposed any lawful investigation. On the contrary, he remains ready, willing and available to honour any invitation lawfully extended to him by the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement said.
The lawyers, however, urged the police to ensure that the process remains “transparent, fair and capable of inspiring public confidence.”
They requested that VDM’s legal representatives be allowed to accompany him during the interview and that members of the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society groups and other independent observers be permitted to monitor the proceedings.
VDM also raised concerns about the possibility of being set up during the investigation and called for additional safeguards.
He suggested that the interview should be broadcast live by accredited media organisations to prevent misinformation or misrepresentation of what occurs during the process.
He maintained that his requests were made in good faith and were not aimed at interfering with the constitutional responsibilities of the police.
Meanwhile, a lawyer from T.O. Teke Law Office has written to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Lagos, seeking clarification over the earlier invitation issued to VDM by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, Lagos Annex.
The lawyer requested details of the alleged offence under investigation, the legal basis for the invitation and information about two individuals identified as “Bode” and “Kenny.”
The letter also sought clarification on Kenny’s reported death, including the date, burial location and any police report connected to the matter.
It further requested evidence of any alleged financial transactions involving the individuals mentioned.
The lawyer argued that since VDM resides in Abuja and the National Cybercrime Centre headquarters is located in the Federal Capital Territory, the interview should take place in Abuja to avoid unnecessary hardship. The request was later overtaken by the transfer of the case to FCID headquarters in Abuja.
Legal practitioner Awele Chukwukaumemma also supported the decision to move the investigation to Abuja, describing it as a step that could strengthen public trust in the process.
She cited the legal principle of Nemo Judex in Causa Sua — which means no one should be a judge in their own case — arguing that separating the investigation from the command where the senior officer involved operates would help address concerns about possible bias.
“The best thing for the Nigeria Police Force to do in this matter to ensure that public trust is upheld is to invite both VDM and the AIG to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, for investigation,” she said.
She, however, advised VDM to cooperate with the police and channel any concerns through his lawyers rather than making statements that could influence public opinion.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to publicly respond to the specific requests made by VDM’s legal team regarding the arrangements for the investigation following the transfer of the case to Abuja.
