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

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM)

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.