Embattled social critic, VeryDarkMan, has cried out following the alleged plan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to release his mugshot with money laundering.
Earlier, the activist was detained after visiting a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) branch in Abuja with his mother to address alleged unauthorised withdrawals from her account.
His arrest sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many Nigerians and celebrities demanding his immediate release.
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Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi condemned VDM’s arrest, calling it a “disregard for the rule of law and human rights”.
Atiku Abubakar, the former vice-president, expressed his disappointment with the “continued detention” of the activist without formal charges, describing it as a “violation of his constitutional rights and a sign of growing authoritarianism” in the country.
Davido also joined the outcry, praising the widespread support for VeryDarkMan as “proof that genuine activism impacts lives”.
Responding to the demands, EFCC in a statement, stated that VeryDarkMan was arrested because of the multiple petitions against him by unnamed individuals accusing him of “financial malfeasance”.
He was released on Wednesday after spending five days in custody.
But in a recent Instagram post, VeryDarkMan alleged that while in custody, EFCC took his mugshot with money laundering charges.
The 31-year-old said the mugshot also include tax evasion charges.
The activist said although he is “starting a friendship” with the anti-graft agency, but it must remove the money laundering tag on his image.
VeryDarkMan dared the EFCC that if the money laundering inscription is not removed, he would continue to lash out at the agency for framing other victims.
“EFCC, you know we are starting a friendship. I want to tak about what can spoil the friendship. You took a picture of me. Where there will be a problem is seeing that picture being shared and I see where money laundering is being written,” he said.
“As we are now making friends that if there is any one scams another I would inform you about it, and you catch the person. It would be fine that way.
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“But if you release my picture on your page and I see money laundering as you have put. First of all, you will prove money laundering to the whole Nigeria. It might be the first case we would do in the open.
“You put tax evasion, no problem. But if money laundering, you will prove it. It only means that all the charges you put on people are all lies.