By John Umeh
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is still holding onto the phone and car of social media commentator VeryDarkMan (VDM), despite his release from custody.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Adeyanju expressed concern over what he described as the continued illegal detention of VDM’s personal property. “The EFCC has failed to return his phone and car since he was granted bail. This is not only a violation of his rights, but also a disregard for due process,” he said.
VDM, known for his outspoken and controversial online presence, was earlier arrested and questioned by the EFCC over undisclosed allegations. Though he has since regained his freedom, his legal team insists that the seizure of his belongings lacks a valid court order and amounts to harassment.
Adeyanju called on the EFCC to respect the rule of law and release VDM’s properties without further delay. “The continuous withholding of his items gives the impression of intimidation. If no formal charges have been filed, his belongings must be returned,” he added.
The EFCC has yet to respond publicly to the claims as of the time of this report.
