Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), said in Abuja on Friday, July 10, 2026, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arrested a suspect linked to the alleged N1.6 billion fraud involving a Nepalese businessman, while raising fresh claims about the circumstances surrounding the case.
The development followed a video posted by VDM in which the activist said he intentionally delayed publishing an earlier interview with the alleged victim to prevent the suspect from fleeing Nigeria before investigators could act.
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According to VDM, the Nepalese businessman first approached him on June 25, 2026, after claiming he had been defrauded of N1.6 billion in an investment transaction. VDM said he immediately accompanied the businessman to the EFCC to report the matter.
The activist alleged that the businessman had previously reported the case to the commission but was discouraged after unnamed officials allegedly requested money before commencing an investigation.
VDM claimed senior EFCC officials later intervened after reviewing documents showing that a formal petition had earlier been submitted.
“The man was arrested yesterday by the members of the EFCC,” VDM said in the video.
VDM further alleged that senior officials at the anti-graft agency directed investigators to recover the money and apprehend those responsible within two weeks, adding that the arrest came before the deadline expired.
In another striking claim, VDM alleged that the Nepalese businessman was introduced to the suspected fraudster during a meeting held at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, an encounter that allegedly convinced the foreign investor that the transaction was legitimate.
The activist also claimed the businessman was later threatened with arrest by some police officers after the deal collapsed, forcing him into hiding before seeking protection through the United Nations because Nepal does not maintain an embassy in Nigeria.
VDM further alleged that statements made by the arrested suspect during the operation suggested that about 500,000 US dollars had been transferred to another individual.
The activist claimed the transaction appeared to implicate the Managing Director of Azman Air but acknowledged that investigators would determine whether any wrongdoing occurred.
“It is looking like the MD of Azman Air is actually involved in this scam. I trust EFCC to investigate and everybody that is involved will be brought to book,” VDM said.
The activist explained that he chose to involve the EFCC instead of first approaching the Inspector General of Police because he believed an independent investigation would better establish whether any serving police officers were connected to the allegations before the findings were handed over to the police authorities.
VDM, who has built a large following by exposing alleged fraud and corruption, said the case extends beyond the loss suffered by one individual and reflects the broader challenge of protecting Nigeria’s reputation among foreign investors.
“Imagine a foreigner coming into Nigeria and he wants to invest. That is not the face of Nigeria. There are a lot of genuine business people in this country,” VDM said.
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The EFCC has, however, continued in recent months to investigate several high-profile fraud complaints involving foreign investors, as authorities seek to strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s investment environment.
See video below:
Ibrahim Onipede is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
