The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has denied any involvement in investigating the alleged theft of N180 million from the account of social media commentator Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, following a report by SaharaReporters on Friday. The police have stated that they have no knowledge of the incident, contradicting Otse’s claims of a cyber-attack on his account, which he says led to the massive financial loss.
Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the FCT Police, clarified that no such case had been reported to the command. “The FCT Police Command is not aware of any case involving VDM’s missing funds and is not conducting any investigation into it. The individual in question should be contacted to clarify where the matter was reported, as there is no record of such a case with the FCT Police Command,” Adeh said.
The alleged theft has raised eyebrows, as it involves a large sum of money, N180 million, reportedly siphoned from the account of an NGO run by Otse, known for his outspoken views on social media. According to Otse, the cybercriminals breached the account, diverting N160 million to an undisclosed account, while the remaining N20 million was left in the compromised account. Otse confirmed the breach via an Instagram post, claiming that the authorities had already apprehended a suspect connected to the crime.
In the post, Otse provided an update to his followers, explaining the breach while on his way to Jos. “Alright. So I’m at the airport, I’ll be honest with you guys. For the past few days, I’ve not been myself. I am here with Officer Joe, and we are going to Jos. The NGO money, somebody hacked into the NGO website, and I don’t know how they did it. And N180 million naira is missing. So but thank God we have tracked the person and we are on our way to Jos,” Otse said.
Despite his claims, FCT Police remain adamant that they have no record of any theft involving VeryDarkMan’s NGO account. The lack of an official report has led to speculation and confusion among the public, with many questioning the validity of the claims or whether the matter has been mishandled.
Otse’s NGO, the Martins Vincent Osei Initiative, was launched just two months ago in October, and it raised over N35 million in donations within hours. The charity’s high-profile nature, bolstered by a generous N100 million contribution from famed music producer Michael Collins Ajereh (better known as Don Jazzy), has only added to the gravity of the situation.
While Otse claims the hacker’s activity was detected soon after the breach, the FCT Police insist that there has been no official report filed with them. The police’s lack of involvement could indicate that the case may have been reported elsewhere, or possibly, the situation may be entirely a misunderstanding.
In a further twist, Otse’s followers have also raised concerns about the authenticity of his account. Some are questioning whether the social media influencer could be facing a financial crisis or even perpetrating a hoax. “It’s either the hacker’s skill is too good or VeryDarkMan is just trying to manipulate the situation,” one online commenter stated. “The FCT Police would not ignore such a high-profile case unless they were told nothing was wrong.”
The FCT Police’s stance is a stark contrast to the information shared by Otse, who had suggested that the police were actively investigating the matter. The alleged disappearance of funds from an NGO account has raised questions about the cybersecurity protocols of organizations handling large sums of money, and whether they are sufficiently protected from sophisticated cyberattacks.
In her statement, Josephine Adeh emphasized that if a cybercrime indeed took place, the issue may not fall under the FCT Police’s jurisdiction. “If this involves a cybercrime, the matter might be better suited for the Cybercrime Division of the Nigerian Police Force or other specialized agencies,” Adeh added, clarifying the scope of their role in such cases.
The conflicting accounts between Otse and the FCT Police have left many unanswered questions. It remains unclear whether the missing funds will be recovered, and how the case will develop moving forward. With the police denying any involvement, Otse has not provided further details on where he might have reported the theft or how the authorities are progressing in identifying the suspect.
The incident also brings to the forefront the vulnerabilities that social media influencers and non-governmental organizations face in an increasingly digital world. With millions of naira at stake, the breach highlights the growing risks associated with financial transactions online, particularly for organizations receiving high-profile donations from public figures.
The FCT Police’s lack of awareness could also indicate lapses in reporting procedures, as such a high-profile incident involving a significant sum of money is expected to be flagged for immediate attention. Otse’s comments suggest that he believes the case to be actively pursued, though the official record disputes this.
