VDM to honour police invitation as case moves to Force Headquarters, Abuja
By Esther Onyegbula
Social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VDM, has agreed to honour the Nigeria Police Force’s invitation after the case was transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Force Headquarters, Abuja, even as his lawyers insisted that the investigation be conducted transparently to inspire public confidence.
The development followed growing public interest in the matter and calls by legal practitioners for an impartial investigation.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Deji Adeyanju & Partners said VDM welcomed the decision of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the concerns he raised and reiterated his willingness to cooperate with lawful authorities.
“Our client has never opposed any lawful investigation. On the contrary, he remains ready, willing and available to honour any invitation lawfully extended to him by the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement said.
The law firm, however, maintained that the investigation should be conducted in a manner that is “transparent, fair and capable of inspiring public confidence.”
It requested that VDM’s legal representatives be allowed to accompany him throughout the interview and that members of the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations and other independent observers be permitted to monitor the proceedings.
Separately, VDM expressed concerns that he could be “set up” during the investigation and appealed for additional safeguards.
He requested that the interview be broadcast live by accredited television stations or other recognised broadcast organisations to eliminate any possibility of misinformation or misrepresentation.
He also reiterated his request for the presence of his lawyers and independent observers, stressing that the requests were made in good faith and were not intended to undermine the statutory investigative powers of the police.
Meanwhile, a lawyer from T. O. Teke Law Office has written to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Lagos, demanding greater clarity over the invitation earlier issued to VDM by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, Lagos Annex.
The lawyer requested that the police disclose the specific offence under investigation, the legal basis for the invitation, and the identities of two individuals identified as “Bode” and “Kenny.”
The letter also sought the date of Kenny’s alleged death, the place of burial and any police report relating to the incident if the individual was indeed deceased.
In addition, the lawyer demanded documentary evidence of any alleged financial transactions involving the two individuals.
The correspondence argued that since VDM resides in Abuja and the headquarters of the National Cybercrime Centre is located in the Federal Capital Territory, the interview should be conducted in Abuja rather than Lagos to avoid unnecessary hardship—a request that has now been overtaken by the transfer of the case to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Copies of the letter were forwarded to the Inspector-General of Police, the Head of the National Cybercrime Centre, the officer in charge of the Lagos Annex and the National Human Rights Commission.
Also commenting on the controversy, legal practitioner Awele Chukwukaumemma said transferring the investigation to Abuja would better protect the credibility of the process.
Citing the legal principle of Nemo Judex in causa sua, she argued that investigating the matter outside the command where the senior police officer involved is based would help dispel concerns about possible bias and strengthen public confidence.
“The best thing for the Nigeria Police Force to do in this matter to ensure that public trust is upheld is to invite both VDM and the AIG to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, for investigation,” she said.
She, however, maintained that VDM should comply with the police invitation through lawful means, advising him to formally communicate any concerns through his lawyers rather than publicly rejecting the invitation.
“As a person who has great influence on his followers, there are things he shouldn’t be saying online because his words may wrongly influence his followers,” she added.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to publicly respond to the latest requests by VDM’s legal team regarding the modalities for the investigation following the transfer of the case to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The post VDM to honour police invitation as case moves to Force Headquarters, Abuja appeared first on Vanguard News.