By Okafor Joseph Afam | December 30, 2024

Prominent Nigerian social media influencer and philanthropist, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has disclosed significant progress in the recovery of funds allegedly stolen from his non-governmental organization’s (NGO) account. In a Sunday update shared on Instagram, Otse confirmed that N78 million out of the N180 million initially reported missing has been recovered.

The incident first came to light on Friday when Otse posted on Instagram, revealing that his NGO account had been hacked, leading to the loss of a substantial sum. According to his account, the hackers diverted N160 million to an undisclosed location, leaving only N20 million in the compromised account. The breach reportedly occurred just weeks after the launch of his NGO, the Martins Vincent Osei Initiative, which had garnered widespread attention and financial support.

Details of the Incident

VDM’s initiative, launched in October, quickly gained traction, raising over N35 million in donations within hours. The organization further received a notable boost with a generous N100 million contribution from acclaimed music producer Michael Collins Ajereh, widely known as Don Jazzy.

However, the security breach cast a shadow over these achievements, prompting mixed reactions from the public. While some sympathized with Otse, others questioned the credibility of his claims, citing the unusual nature of the incident.

Otse revealed that investigations are ongoing, with one suspect already in custody. The apprehended individual allegedly disclosed that an accomplice had fled to Ghana, adding another layer of complexity to the case.

Progress and Optimism

In his latest Instagram update, VDM expressed gratitude for the progress made so far and remained hopeful about recovering the remaining funds. “Thanks to the people who called to check up on me. I also want to thank God for the process so far: we have been able to recover N78 million, even though the suspect pointed out that the person he did it with has run to Ghana. So hopefully, we would be going to Ghana very soon,” he wrote.

The news has sparked widespread discussions across social media, with many commending VDM for his transparency and resilience. Others have called for increased security measures to protect NGO accounts and ensure donor contributions are safeguarded.

As the investigation continues, the outcome will likely have a lasting impact on how philanthropic organizations in Nigeria manage their funds and address cybercrime.