In a dramatic turn of events that has set Nigerian social media ablaze, gospel singer Mercy Chinwo finds herself at the center of a heated controversy. Filmmaker Stanley Ontop and musician Seun Kuti have publicly accused Chinwo of orchestrating the arrest of popular social media influencer VeryDarkMan (VDM), whose real name is Vincent Martins Otse. The allegations, shared widely on platforms like X, have sparked a firestorm of reactions, with hashtags like #FreeVDM trending as netizens demand answers.
The Arrest That Sparked Outrage
On May 1, 2025, VeryDarkMan was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) shortly after leaving a GTBank branch in Abuja with his mother. VDM had been vocal about unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account, but his arrest took a different turn when Stanley Ontop and Seun Kuti pointed fingers at Mercy Chinwo. According to the duo, Chinwo’s involvement stems from VDM’s recent criticisms of her over a legal dispute with her former manager, Eezee Tee, involving a staggering $345,000.
The controversy isn’t new. Back in March 2025, a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja issued an arrest warrant for VDM over defamation claims filed by Chinwo, who sought ₦1.1 billion in damages. VDM had accused Chinwo of engaging in questionable activities during her legal battle with Eezee Tee, even alleging bias by the judge and connections between an EFCC official and Chinwo’s husband, Blessed Uzochinwa. The court ordered VDM to retract his statements and issue a public apology, but his arrest on May 1 has reignited the feud.
Stanley Ontop’s Bombshell Revelation
In a now-viral post on X by Business Elites Africa (
@ElitesAfrica
), Stanley Ontop claimed that Mercy Chinwo blocked him on Instagram after he pleaded with her and her husband to secure VDM’s release. “Mercy Chinwo blocked me on IG last night because I told her and her husband to free VDM,” Ontop stated in a graphic shared in the post. He went on to question Chinwo’s actions, asking, “Is this how we should behave as ministers of God? Just block me for saying the truth?” Ontop’s comments were echoed by Seun Kuti, who also alleged Chinwo’s involvement in VDM’s detention, calling for his immediate release.The X post, timestamped at 10:06 AM UTC on May 5, 2025, quickly gained traction, amassing thousands of views and comments. Netizens were divided—some supported VDM, chanting “Free VDM,” while others dismissed the allegations as baseless. One user,
@Therapist_015
, commented, “All of una wey dey rate this guy dey ment,” while @AmosDedoyin
called it a “psyop,” suggesting a orchestrated manipulation of public opinion.A Pattern of Legal Troubles for VDM
This isn’t the first time VeryDarkMan has found himself in hot water. Earlier in April 2025, VDM faced legal action after circulating a voice recording alleging that crossdresser Bobrisky had bribed EFCC officials to drop money laundering charges—a claim Bobrisky denied, calling the recording AI-generated. Now, with his latest arrest, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has condemned the EFCC’s actions, describing them as an attempt to silence VDM for exposing alleged corruption within the agency. “The EFCC does not possess the legal mandate to prosecute individuals for criminal defamation, libel, or cybercrime,” Sowore argued, demanding VDM’s immediate release.
VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed plans to secure his client’s bail, noting that the EFCC had yet to disclose specific charges. Meanwhile, the agency is reportedly preparing to file formal charges against VDM as early as today, May 5, 2025.
Public Reaction: A Divided Nation
The allegations against Mercy Chinwo have polarized Nigerians online. Some netizens, like
@luqman_fabulouz
, supported Ontop’s claims, simply stating, “Facts,” while others, like @sizzling_u
, called the situation “stupidity” that left them “speechless.” Another user, @ogbe_jeremiah
, advised VDM to “stop harassing people online,” suggesting his actions may have contributed to his predicament.The controversy has also taken bizarre turns, with unrelated rumors surfacing in the replies. One user,
@bestdefiweb3
, shared a link to a story about “gods of water” in South Africa, humorously questioning its validity while still advocating for VDM’s release.What’s Next for Mercy Chinwo and VeryDarkMan?
As the drama unfolds, all eyes are on Mercy Chinwo, who has yet to publicly respond to the allegations. Her silence has only fueled speculation, with some netizens branding her “Merciless Chinwo” and others questioning her role as a gospel minister. For VeryDarkMan, the fight for freedom continues, with his supporters rallying under the #FreeVDM banner.
Will Chinwo address the accusations? Will VDM be released, or will the EFCC press charges? Stay tuned as this saga continues to unfold, shaking up Nigeria’s entertainment and social media landscape.
What do you think? Should VDM be freed, or does he deserve to face the consequences of his online actions? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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