VeryDarkMan Says Presidency Wrongly Linked Him To ‘Doctored’ Tinubu Recording Without Fact-Checking
VeryDarkMan Says Presidency Wrongly Linked Him To ‘Doctored’ Tinubu Recording Without Fact-Checking
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Onanuga called for legal action against VeryDarkMan over his alleged role in circulating the purported audio involving the President.
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Human rights activist and social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has criticised the Presidency over allegations surrounding a “doctored audio” linked to President Bola Tinubu, accusing presidential officials of making damaging claims without first verifying the facts.
In a statement issued through his legal representatives, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, VDM condemned remarks made by the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, regarding the alleged fake audio clip circulating online.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Onanuga called for legal action against VeryDarkMan over his alleged role in circulating the purported audio involving the President.
The controversy erupted after VDM was accused of sharing a video claiming he had obtained an audio recording allegedly featuring President Tinubu discussing Nigeria’s political situation, insecurity, and the 2027 elections.
Introducing the recording in the video, VDM purportedly said, “After this audio that I am about to play, I would ask if they cooked Nigerians who will support Tinubu in 2027, or you guys are okay.”
The audio clip played in the video allegedly featured Tinubu making controversial remarks regarding attempts to remove him from office, insecurity in the South-East, and borrowing from the World Bank.
In the purported recording, the voice alleged to be that of the President said, “They have been trying to take me out of the position, but it’s not possible, mind you, I am winning this election, I do not care whatever is happening, Nigerians deserve it.”
The voice in the audio further stated, “Because when I was running as a President, they did not want me, now all of a sudden they want me to rescue them from insecurity.”
Another section of the recording allegedly quoted the President as saying, “I called Peter Obi to stepped down for me, but he refused. I am not begging him again, I will be whatsoever in my mind, and I will make sure the insecurity affects the people in the South East more.”
The purported audio also contained comments about foreign loans and insecurity, claiming, “Listen, I am going to borrow more and more money from the World Bank, I won’t like to stop this insecurity because if I do, how will our party be able to win elections, think about it, even the loans I am taking is to fund them.”
In a video accompanying the audio, VDM addressed his followers in a mix of English and Pidgin, urging them to listen carefully to the recording before deciding whether to support Tinubu’s possible re-election bid in 2027.
Onanuga, in a post published on X on Wednesday, accused VDM of disseminating false content 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 wrote.
However, VDM’s legal team said the controversial audio was fabricated and had no connection to VDM.
“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,” the statement signed by Barrister Deji Adeyanju, read.
According to the lawyers, “A simple verification of our client’s verified social media platforms would have confirmed that he neither made nor shared the said audio.”
The lawyers expressed surprise that the Presidency allegedly commented on the matter without first carrying out what they described as proper fact-checking, despite the resources at its disposal.
“It is therefore surprising that, despite the resources available to the Presidency, adverse comments were made concerning our client without proper verification of the facts,” the legal team said.
The legal team further said that the incident reinforced VeryDarkMan’s long-held fears that influential persons within government circles were plotting to silence and discredit him because of his outspoken criticism of issues affecting the public.
The legal team subsequently called on security agencies to launch an investigation into the source of the doctored audio and prosecute those responsible for its circulation.
“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 legal team said.
