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VeryDarkMan Denies Audio Allegations, Says “I Want to Face the Law”

Published

3 months ago

May 28, 2026

VeryDarkMan Rejects Police Invitation, Alleges Plot to Silence Him Over AIG Corruption Claims

VeryDarkMan Denies Audio Allegations, Says “I Want to Face the Law”

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has denied any connection to a controversial audio recording currently circulating online, describing it as “doctored” and falsely attributed to him . The activist has called on security agencies to investigate the source and circulation of the alleged fake audio, even as fresh investigations by Premium Times revealed that the manipulated video circulating online did not originate from VDM’s original post .

In a statement issued by his legal representatives, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, the activist’s management faulted comments reportedly made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, regarding the audio clip . The statement said a simple verification of VDM’s verified social media platforms would have shown that he neither produced nor shared the audio in question. “It is surprising that, despite the resources available to the Presidency, adverse comments were made concerning our client without proper verification of the facts,” the statement read .

According to the legal team, the development further reinforces the activist’s longstanding concerns about alleged attempts by influential individuals within government to discredit and silence him because of his outspoken stance on issues of public interest . The circulation of the audio, they argued, forms part of efforts aimed at damaging the public image of the social media personality. The lawyers called on relevant security agencies to investigate the origin and circulation of the alleged doctored audio and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. “We accordingly call on the relevant security agencies to investigate the source and circulation of the doctored audio and ensure that those responsible are identified and dealt with in accordance with the law,” the statement added .

In a detailed investigation, Premium Times found that the viral clip circulating online was created after an unidentified individual extracted footage from VDM’s original Instagram video and inserted AI-generated voice notes resembling President Tinubu’s voice, creating the false impression that the activist shared the audio himself . The newspaper’s findings revealed that in the original footage, VDM was reacting to comments made by content creator and philanthropist Mitchell “King Mitchy” Mukoro, who had alleged that his necklace was a charm and claimed he had visited a shrine. While responding, VDM played an old campaign clip of Mr. Tinubu speaking about electricity and governance ahead of the 2023 presidential election .

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In the original campaign footage aired by TVC News, President Tinubu said Nigerians should not vote for him for a second term if he failed to deliver on his promises regarding electricity supply. “Whichever way, by all means necessary, you must have electricity, and you won’t pay for estimated bills anymore. A promise made will be a promise kept. If I don’t keep my promise and I run for a second term, don’t vote for me. That’s the truth,” Mr. Tinubu said in the original clip . Premium Times further found that an unidentified individual later extracted portions of the original VDM video and superimposed AI-generated voice notes resembling Mr. Tinubu’s voice before circulating the manipulated version online. The edited clip retained the opening portion of VDM’s original video before switching to the fabricated AI-generated audio, creating the impression that the activist had shared or endorsed the recordings himself. The manipulated clip subsequently circulated widely on social media and eventually prompted Mr. Onanuga to call for the activist’s prosecution .

The altered audio contained AI-generated voice notes falsely attributed to Mr. Tinubu, including claims that he deliberately allowed insecurity to persist in parts of the country for political reasons. The fabricated audio also falsely claimed that the president had asked former Anambra State governor Peter Obi to step down in his favour and threatened to worsen insecurity in the South-east . The audio, which bears the hallmarks of AI voice cloning, features a voice mimicking Tinubu making a series of damaging statements, including that insecurity in the South-East was deliberate, that he had called on Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to step down for him in 2022, that he was indifferent to the suffering of Nigerians, and that loans from the World Bank were being channelled to fund elections .

The dispute began when Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, took to his verified X handle @aonanuga1956 to accuse VDM of abusing social media by disseminating what he called false information capable of misleading the public and damaging the image of the president . “This VDM needs to face the weight of the law for being the conveyor and disseminator of a fake audio of President Tinubu. This is a clear case of an egregious abuse of the social media platform,” Onanuga said . Describing the voice note as manipulated, Onanuga warned that the spread of unverified material poses serious dangers to public trust, national security, and democratic stability. According to the presidential spokesman, those responsible for circulating such content should be held accountable under the law .

In a separate response posted on his social media platforms, VDM declared that he was ready for any legal action and would even return earlier than planned to face the matter . “I will not defend the allegations. If I respond, let God punish me. I want to face that law. I will even book a flight to come earlier than I planned. I want to see what you people can do,” he said . The social media critic maintained that he had a right to speak against the government when he believed it had done wrong. “If you are pained that VDM is speaking, what option do I have other than to speak? It is my right to criticise the government when it is doing wrong. We are in a democracy,” he stated .

In a strongly worded statement, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju slammed the presidency over what he described as its failure to properly verify the fake audio before making public comments . Adeyanju stated that the viral video is not on any social media platform of VDM and that the controversy would have been avoided if proper verification had been conducted. Adeyanju said the presidency’s threat further validates VDM’s longstanding concerns about attempts by powerful people in government to cage him . The statement read in part: “The attention of our client has been drawn to the statement made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, concerning a doctored audio currently circulating online and falsely attributed to our client, Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan. A simple verification of our client’s verified social media platforms would have confirmed that he neither made nor shared the said audio” .

The incident has since sparked conversations online about the dangers of AI-generated misinformation and the speed with which manipulated political content can spread across social media platforms . Several users on X questioned why the presidency moved quickly to call for the activist’s prosecution before independently verifying the authenticity and origin of the altered clip . The controversy highlights growing concerns about the increasing use of artificial intelligence tools to manipulate audio and video content featuring public officials, celebrities, and political figures. Although the AI-generated audio circulated widely online, checks by Premium Times showed that the voice notes were not part of VDM’s original upload and appeared to have been added later by another individual .

In a related development, the Coalition for Ethical Technology and Democratic Integrity recently called on the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently criminalise AI-generated blackmail, classifying it as a national security threat and a form of cyber-terrorism, warning that deepfakes and fake content could threaten the credibility of the 2027 elections . The Federal Government had earlier warned the public against a fake AI-generated advertisement using Tinubu’s image and video circulating on Facebook to solicit investments in a Ponzi scheme, with the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria warning that violations would attract sanctions . Nigeria’s Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015, as amended in 2024, contains provisions that criminalise the production and distribution of false digital communications designed to cause harm or damage to a person’s reputation, with penalties including imprisonment .

As of the time of filing this report, Mr. Onanuga had not issued any clarification regarding the discovery that the manipulated audio did not originate from the activist’s original video . The legal team has urged authorities to take action against those involved in spreading what they described as misinformation, but directed at tracing the actual source of the doctored audio rather than targeting their client. The development has also reignited conversations around digital verification, misinformation and the responsibility of public officials to fact-check viral content before making public accusations or demands for prosecution . VDM, who is no stranger to controversy and previous legal battles, has maintained his innocence and continues to insist that the audio was falsely attributed to him as part of a coordinated effort to discredit his activism.

VeryDarkMan Denies Audio Allegations, Says “I Want to Face the Law”

Related Topics:Audio Allegations VeryDarkMan

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Probe Me Over $16bn Power Spending If You Have Evidence – Atiku Dares FG

Published

3 hours ago

August 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Probe Me Over $16bn Power Spending If You Have Evidence – Atiku Dares FG

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has thrown down the gauntlet to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, demanding that it substantiate allegations linking him to alleged wrongdoing in the controversial $16 billion power sector expenditure or cease what he describes as a campaign of political distraction. In a statement released on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku insisted that he should be investigated and prosecuted if the government possesses credible evidence against him, stressing that political accusations cannot replace proof. The former Vice President accused the Tinubu administration and its supporters of reviving decades-old allegations to divert public attention from pressing questions surrounding the management of government revenues following the removal of petrol subsidy.

Atiku noted that the National Assembly had previously investigated the power projects, but he was never invited to respond to any allegations of misconduct. “The National Assembly investigated the power projects. I was never invited to answer any allegation of wrongdoing,” he stated. He acknowledged that he chaired the National Council on Privatisation while serving as Vice President but clarified that he did not oversee the implementation of the power project. “Yes, I chaired the National Council on Privatisation as Vice President. But on the power project, I disagreed with its concept and did not preside over its implementation. The responsible minister did. The same applies to the Aluminium Smelter matter,” Atiku explained.

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election declared that he had repeatedly made himself available for investigation since leaving office in 2007. “I have repeatedly asked to be investigated. I left office in 2007 and have spent much of the period since then opposing governments in power. If there is evidence that I stole public money, why has no government produced it before a court?” he queried. Atiku challenged the authorities to reopen the matter if they believed there was a genuine case against him. “It is still not too late. Investigate me. Invite me. Produce the evidence. Prosecute me if you have a case. But propaganda cannot substitute for evidence,” he said.

The former Vice President linked the renewed allegations to his persistent criticism of the Federal Government’s handling of the economic consequences of petrol subsidy removal. He argued that Nigerians had been promised that eliminating the subsidy would free funds for development, but citizens had instead faced higher costs of transportation, food, and other essentials. “Today, petrol is more expensive, transportation is more expensive, food is more expensive and the purchasing power of the Nigerian worker has been devastated,” he said. Atiku further questioned how additional government revenues were being deployed, alleging that tax incentives, waivers, credits, and concessions continued to benefit powerful economic interests. “So our question remains brutally simple: where is the people’s money?” he asked. He accused the government of hypocrisy for withdrawing economic relief from ordinary Nigerians while maintaining interventions that benefited major corporate interests. “You cannot take relief away from the poor, celebrate the resulting revenue and then tell the same impoverished citizens that government intervention on their behalf is economically irresponsible while interventions benefiting powerful interests are called incentives. That hypocrisy is precisely what we are challenging,” Atiku stated.

Atiku dismissed what he described as sponsored social media attacks, insisting they would not prevent him from demanding transparency over public finances. “The people who removed subsidy from the poor cannot frighten us into silence by resurrecting allegations that governments with all the investigative machinery of the Nigerian state have had nearly two decades to establish,” he declared. He challenged the government to either substantiate the allegations or address questions over the use of funds generated after subsidy removal. “If you have evidence against Atiku, bring it. If you have a case, prosecute it. But if you have neither, stop manufacturing distractions and answer Nigerians: You removed the subsidy. You collected the savings. Where is the money?” he demanded.

Probe Me Over $16bn Power Spending If You Have Evidence – Atiku Dares FG

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20-Year-Old Arrested for Allegedly Macheting Father to Death in Anambra

Published

3 hours ago

August 26, 2026

Trends Admin

20-Year-Old Arrested for Allegedly Macheting Father to Death in Anambra

A 20-year-old man, Pascal Ogbogu, has been arrested by the Anambra State Police Command for the alleged murder of his 56-year-old father with a machete in Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area. The suspect reportedly attacked his father on the evening of Tuesday, August 25, 2026, inflicting a deep machete wound to the throat before fleeing the scene. Following a distress report, police operatives from the Eziowelle Police Division, with the assistance of family members and the Abatete Vigilante, promptly mobilised to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of the deceased in a pool of blood. The remains were subsequently evacuated to a mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

The suspect, who fled after the attack, was apprehended in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, 2026, through coordinated efforts by the police and vigilante personnel. His arrest was facilitated by timely information and cooperation from community members, who assisted security operatives in tracking and locating him. The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident and the arrest in a statement on Wednesday, August 26. Ikenga stated that preliminary information revealed the suspect committed the crime on Tuesday evening, and the father’s remains had been evacuated to the mortuary.

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The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, commended the prompt response of security operatives and the support provided by community members. He particularly praised the family members, community residents, police operatives, and vigilante personnel for their cooperation. CP Ama emphasised that effective community participation, timely information sharing, and strong collaboration between security agencies and local communities remained essential to successful policing and the protection of lives and property. While commiserating with the family of the deceased, the CP directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation and comprehensive review. He assured the family and the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally, thoroughly, and diligently, in accordance with the law, and that the suspect would face due process upon conclusion of the investigation.

The motive for the alleged attack has not yet been established, as investigations are ongoing. The suspect remains in police custody while the case is being reviewed by the State CID.

20-Year-Old Arrested for Allegedly Macheting Father to Death in Anambra

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How Filling Station Sold Me Water Instead Of Petrol – Lagos Resident Recounts Ordeal

Published

3 hours ago

August 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Oluwaseyi Oluwabiyi

How Filling Station Sold Me Water Instead Of Petrol – Lagos Resident Recounts Ordeal

A Lagos resident, Oluwaseyi Oluwabiyi, has shared her shocking experience of how a filling station allegedly dispensed water into her vehicle’s fuel tank instead of petrol, causing her car to break down just 10 minutes after she left the premises. The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) intervened, held the station responsible, and secured compensation for damages and repairs. Oluwabiyi, who shared her experience in a testimonial video released on Wednesday by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), said she realised something was wrong when her vehicle stopped about 10 minutes after she left the filling station. According to her, she contacted a mechanic who inspected the vehicle and discovered that there was no petrol in the tank—only water had been dispensed into it. “I bought fuel from a filling station and unfortunately, they fueled my tank with just water. There was no fuel at all in what was put in my tank,” Oluwabiyi said.

Oluwabiyi said she immediately lodged a complaint with LASCOPA the same day, submitting pictures, videos and other evidence relating to the incident. Following her complaint, LASCOPA directed her to obtain an estimate of the cost of repairing the vehicle, after which the agency invited both parties for a mediation session. According to her, the filling station was held responsible for the incident and was made to bear the cost of repairing her vehicle as well as additional damages. “They were made to pay the cost of me fixing my car and extra damages. This was all thanks to LASCOPA. My car was fixed. It was reinstated to the position it would have been before the incident,” she said.

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Oluwabiyi described LASCOPA as one of the “hidden gems” provided by the Lagos State Government to protect consumers and resolve disputes outside the conventional court system. She noted that the agency’s intervention demonstrated the importance of alternative dispute resolution in resolving consumer complaints promptly while helping to reduce the burden on the courts. “If you have any disputes, I strongly recommend, or you have any complaints, I strongly recommend that you report it to the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, which will ensure that the issues are dealt with and resolved promptly,” she said. She expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government and LASCOPA for the initiative, urging residents to make use of the agency whenever they encounter consumer-related disputes.

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has been actively expanding its reach across the state. In June 2026, LASCOPA commenced operations at annex offices in Ikorodu, Badagry, Bariga, Ikoyi-Obalende, Ojo, Epe, Agege, and Isolo to improve residents’ access to consumer protection services. The agency’s General Manager, Afolabi Solebo, noted that the decentralisation aims to enhance service delivery and facilitate prompt resolution of consumer disputes. LASCOPA handles complaints across various sectors, including electricity distribution, automobile services, food and beverages, healthcare, banking, telecommunications, and oil and gas services. The agency has recovered millions of naira in refunds from service providers, including over N156.2 million from Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company and more than N30.1 million from Eko Electricity Distribution Company.

This is not an isolated incident. In Ebonyi State, the government sealed the Shafa Oil and Gas Station after its tank developed a fault, allowing water to flow into the underground petrol tank. A video surfaced showing a driver complaining that petrol purchased from the station was watery, resulting in the vehicle stopping a few metres from the station. Similarly, in Abuja, customers at the Azman Oil and Gas Ltd filling station in Wuse Zone 5 reported that their vehicles broke down after they were dispensed water instead of fuel. Motorists who had queued to buy fuel were left distraught, with some accusing the station’s attendants of delivering water into their tanks. A staff member explained that the fault might have been with their supplier.

Experts suggest that water contamination can occur when rain seeps into underground fuel storage tanks if not properly sealed, or when fuel suppliers use water to test for leaks in tankers, and mistakes occur during delivery. Consumers are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious fuel purchases immediately. The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency advises consumers experiencing unfair trade practices to lodge complaints through its official channels, including a toll-free line: 08000052726.