Nigerian social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, has strongly reacted to threats of prosecution from the Presidency over a viral AI-generated audio clip allegedly linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The activist dismissed the allegations and launched a scathing attack on presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, accusing him of misplacing priorities while insecurity continues to plague the nation.
Presidency Threatens Legal Action
Bayo Onanuga announced on Wednesday, May 27, that VeryDarkMan would face prosecution for allegedly sharing a fake audio clip that mimicked President Tinubu's voice. The recording claimed that insecurity would persist because Nigerians did not vote for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. Onanuga insisted that those responsible for spreading the recording must face the full weight of the law.
VDM's Fiery Response
In a video posted on Instagram later that night, VeryDarkMan not only denied the allegations but also personally attacked Onanuga, describing him as unfit for his role and lacking the intelligence to focus on real national issues. He stated: “President spokesman Bayo, you are a very stupid old man. I’m not trying to insult you, but look at the meaning of stupid. That’s what you represent. That is who you are.”
VeryDarkMan further accused officials under Tinubu's administration of being incapable of critical thinking, alleging that the government was using the viral audio as a distraction to silence him instead of addressing insecurity. He said: “I swear to God, you are so daft, and this is the reason why I said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not come back in 2027 because all the people that operate under him don’t use their brains.”
Highlighting Insecurity Concerns
The activist pointed to recent kidnappings in Oyo State, where schoolchildren and teachers were abducted. He noted reports that one teacher had been killed while others remained in captivity, even on Children's Day. VDM questioned why the Presidency had not commented on the kidnappings but was quick to threaten him over an online video. He asked: “Bandits went into a school in Oyo State, they carried three teachers, one man, two women, they carried students. One of the teachers was backing an infant child. Few days later, there was a report that one of the teachers was beheaded. Bayo Onanuga, where is your comment on that?”
VeryDarkMan concluded by insisting that only gullible people would believe the AI-generated audio, while the real issue of insecurity continues to endanger lives. He stated: “It’s only stupid people that will believe that video.”
Lawyers Deny Involvement
Earlier, VeryDarkMan's legal team, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, reacted after the Presidency called for action over the controversial audio. The lawyers described the recording as doctored and falsely connected to their client. They maintained that a review of VeryDarkMan's verified social media pages would show that he neither created nor circulated the audio, and they called on security agencies to investigate those behind the recording.
