Social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has denied any connection to a controversial audio clip circulating online, describing it as doctored and falsely attributed to him.
In a statement issued by Deji Adeyanju & Partners, legal representatives of the activist, the management faulted comments reportedly made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, regarding the audio.
According to the statement, a simple verification of VeryDarkMan’s verified social media platforms would have shown that he neither created nor shared the audio in question.
“It is surprising that, despite the resources available to the Presidency, adverse comments were made concerning our client without proper verification of the facts,” the statement read.
The legal team argued that the incident further reinforced the activist’s concerns about alleged attempts by influential individuals within government to discredit and silence him over his outspoken views on issues of public interest.
According to the lawyers, the circulation of the audio formed part of efforts aimed at damaging the public image of the social media personality.
The statement also called on relevant security agencies to investigate the source and circulation of the alleged doctored audio and ensure that those responsible are identified and prosecuted.
“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 statement added.