By Ameh Gabriel
Earlier today, May 2, 2025, our attention was drawn to the fact that our clients, Mr. Martins Vincent Otse (aka Very Dark Black Man) and Mr. Steven Avuara (aka C-Pack), were arrested by officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) immediately after they exited Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Ltd.’s premises at Garki, Area 3, Abuja.
Upon receipt of this information, our Founding Partner, Marvin Omorogbe, Esq., and our Associate, Steven Eze, Esq., promptly proceeded to the EFCC Headquarters, Abuja, where they confirmed that our clients were being detained by officers attached to the Commission’s Special Duty Committee (SDC) Unit 4.
Further inquiries at the SDC Unit 4 led our colleagues to a certain Mr. Chukwu, who was identified as the lead officer in charge of the case. Our colleagues subsequently requested access to our clients but were informed that Mr. Martins Otse declined to see anybody. However, our colleagues were able to see Mr. Avuara, who narrated the circumstances leading to their arrest.
From our interactive session with Mr. Avuara, we gathered that Mr. Martins Otse, his mother, Mrs. Blessing Otse, and Mr. Avuara visited GTB Garki, Area 3, Abuja, to make inquiries about the incessant deductions from Mrs. Otse’s bank account. Following the conclusion of the inquiries, they attempted to exit the building but were locked in the bank’s security door for over five minutes. Shortly thereafter, they were accosted at gunpoint a few meters outside the bank’s premises, beaten, and blindfolded by some armed men wearing black uniforms.
According to Mr. Avuara, Mr. Martins Otse refused to speak with anybody, presumably because of the psychological and physical trauma he experienced at the hands of the arresting officers, who labelled them as “bandits” and threatened to shoot them in the presence of Mrs. Otse.
We were further informed by Mr. Avuara that they were transported to the EFCC Headquarters at Jabi, Abuja. At the time of this statement, we are unable to confirm the whereabouts of Mrs. Otse.
We thereafter sought to find out from the EFCC officers the exact allegation against Mr. Avuara, having not been able to speak with Mr. Martins Otse. However, we were directed to proceed to an interrogation room, where four EFCC officers, led by Mr. Chukwu, attempted to interrogate Mr. Avuara regarding his relationship with Mr. Martins Otse. Despite repeated requests, the EFCC officers refused to disclose the specific allegation against Mr. Avuara but only showed our colleagues an arrest warrant allegedly issued against Mr. Martins Otse by His Worship, Njideka Iloanya-Duru (Mrs.), Chief Magistrate II, Wuse Zone 2, on the allegation of cyberstalking.
Regardless of our protest against the procedure adopted by the EFCC officers, which sought to elicit information from Mr. Avuara without first informing him of the allegations against him, the EFCC officers still attempted to continue their interrogation of Mr. Avuara.
In order not to legitimize the clear breach of Mr. Avuara’s constitutional right to be informed of the allegations against him, our colleagues exited the interrogation room and the EFCC Headquarters.
While we continue to interface with the EFCC on this issue, we call on the Commission to respect our clients’ constitutionally guaranteed rights.
Zainab M. Otega, Esq.
For: Management
