Former EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has shared shocking details of how Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, a businessman, defrauded the Nigerian government of N3.7 billion through petrol subsidy fraud. In his book titled The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud, Bawa explained how Ogunbambo used fake documents to collect money meant for importing fuel. According to Bawa, Ogunbambo claimed he imported petrol, but the fuel never existed. He forged shipping documents and presented them to the government to receive payments. Ogunbambo, who was the managing director of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Ltd, was declared wanted by the EFCC in 2013. He was charged with collecting N976.6 million fraudulently. While the case was still in court, he jumped bail and fled the country. Bawa said Ogunbambo had multiple identities and was also wanted in other countries like Ireland, the UK, and the USA. The book also talks about how fuel subsidy fraud has been a major problem in...
The arrest of Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sparked widespread public discourse and scrutiny. VDM, a prominent social media critic, was apprehended on May 2, 2025, in Abuja over allegations related to cyberstalking and financial misconduct.
ALLEGATIONS AND EFCC'S RESPONSE
VDM has been a vocal critic of the EFCC, particularly its chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede. He alleges that the commission is orchestrating a plot to silence him due to his outspoken views. In a video posted on his Instagram page, VDM claimed that an influential lawyer and a popular social media influencer visited the EFCC's Abuja office, presenting purported evidence to implicate him, including clips and a photograph of him allegedly spraying money at an event. He further alleged that EFCC officials expressed interest in targeting him due to his criticisms of the agency's leadership.
The EFCC has not publicly responded to these specific allegations.
VDM's arrest has elicited significant reactions from the public and legal community. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to express their concerns over the perceived targeting of critics by law enforcement agencies. Legal experts have called for transparency and adherence to due process in handling the case.
In a related development, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for an independent investigation into claims that EFCC officers accepted a ₦15 million bribe to drop money laundering charges against Nigerian cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky. These allegations were brought to light by VDM, who shared an audio recording purportedly featuring Bobrisky admitting to the bribe. The NBA emphasized the need for a transparent inquiry to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s legal system.
The House of Representatives has also resolved to probe the bribery allegations against the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), as raised by VDM. The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during a plenary session, mandating the committees on financial crimes and reformatory institutions to investigate the allegations and report back within three week
The unfolding events surrounding VDM's arrest and the subsequent investigations have raised broader concerns about freedom of expression and the integrity of Nigeria's anti-corruption agencies. Observers are closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the importance of due process and the need for institutions to operate without bias or undue influence.
As investigations continue, the public awaits further developments and official statements from the EFCC and other relevant authorities.
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