The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is preparing to investigate activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju and social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkman, concerning allegations of terror financing, illicit funding networks, and other potential threats to national security. This development follows a formal petition submitted by legal practitioner Blessing Agbomhere, who has called on the anti-graft agency to conduct a thorough examination of the financial sources, sponsorship arrangements, and monetary activities of these two prominent public figures.
Petition Details and Scope of Investigation
In the petition dated June 17, 2026, Agbomhere, who serves as the principal partner at Blessing Agbomhere and Partners, urged the EFCC to scrutinize the funding behind the advocacy campaigns, media engagements, protests, legal interventions, and public mobilization efforts associated with Adeyanju and VeryDarkMan. According to the petitioner, the scale and frequency of their public activities warrant a closer look to ensure compliance with financial regulations, anti-money laundering laws, and other statutory obligations.
Agbomhere specifically asked the commission to determine whether the funds used to support their activities come from lawful and transparent sources and whether all relevant obligations related to taxation, financial disclosures, and regulatory compliance have been fulfilled. While acknowledging that civic engagement and public advocacy are constitutionally protected rights, he argued that the financing of large-scale campaigns targeting government policies and institutions raises legitimate questions that deserve regulatory scrutiny.
National Security Concerns and Foreign Interference
The petition also highlighted what Agbomhere described as potential national security concerns. He noted that in several jurisdictions, covert funding arrangements have at times been exploited by domestic and foreign actors to influence political narratives, shape public discourse, and undermine state institutions. Consequently, he called on the EFCC to ascertain whether any local or foreign individuals, organizations, foundations, political interests, or pressure groups are directly or indirectly financing the activities of the two men.
The lawyer further requested a forensic examination of their income sources, assets, bank accounts, funding arrangements, corporate entities, trusts, foundations, and associated platforms. He also urged investigators to probe possible indicators of money laundering, unlawful fundraising, tax evasion, foreign financial interference, terror financing, and other economic or financial crimes where applicable.
Call for Inter-Agency Collaboration
Agbomhere called on the EFCC to collaborate with intelligence, security, financial regulatory, and anti-corruption agencies to determine whether the source, movement, or utilization of funds connected to the activities of Adeyanju and VeryDarkMan pose any threat to national security. However, he stressed that the petition should not be interpreted as an allegation of criminal guilt against either individual. According to him, the request is aimed at enabling the EFCC to exercise its statutory investigative powers in the interest of transparency, accountability, and public confidence.
He added that if investigations establish that all funds were lawfully acquired and properly utilized, such findings would help dispel public concerns and reinforce confidence in the integrity of the individuals involved. Agbomhere expressed confidence that the EFCC would give the petition urgent attention, citing its potential implications for financial accountability, public trust, and national security.
