The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command and Plateau State Police Command have stated they are unaware of an alleged theft of ₦180 million from the Martins Vincent Otse Initiative, a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded by social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
VeryDarkMan’s Allegations
In a video shared on Instagram on Friday, VDM claimed his NGO’s account was hacked, resulting in the loss of over ₦180 million. He alleged that a suspect had been apprehended, and the account was subsequently frozen to prevent additional unauthorized transactions.
VDM also disclosed plans to travel to Jos to recover the stolen funds.
Police Commands Respond
When contacted on Saturday, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, clarified that the case had not been reported to them.
*”The FCT Police Command is not aware of any case involving VDM’s missing funds and is not conducting any investigation into it.
“The individual in question should clarify where the matter was reported, as there is no record of such a case with the FCT Police Command,”* Adeh stated.
Similarly, Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, Alabo Alfred, confirmed that the matter was not reported to their command and that the alleged crime did not fall under their jurisdiction.
*”The matter is not reported to us. We are not the ones handling the matter because the crime was not committed within our jurisdiction.
“If he said he is coming to Jos, that does not mean that we are the ones handling the case,”* Alfred explained.
About the Martins Vincent Otse Initiative
The Martins Vincent Otse Initiative, launched in October, aims to address Nigeria’s educational challenges. The NGO gained significant attention and financial backing, including a ₦100 million donation from renowned music producer Don Jazzy.
Despite the alleged breach, neither the FCT Police Command nor the Plateau Police Command has confirmed involvement in the investigation, leaving questions about the jurisdiction handling the case.
As the situation develops, stakeholders and supporters of the Martins Vincent Otse Initiative will be looking for transparency and accountability in addressing this significant financial loss. The public awaits further updates from VDM or relevant authorities.
