386 Million Raised, ₦60 Million Left: Has VDM Delivered Value for Nigerians?
By Passman Akpos
A supporter of social media activist and influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has sparked debate online after publicly questioning how funds donated to the activist’s NGO are being spent.
In a lengthy social media post, self-described “Ratel Comrade” Onoriode Umukoro claimed that the NGO’s publicly displayed financial records indicate that more than ₦325 million has already been deployed to projects, leaving a balance of approximately ₦60.8 million from total donations exceeding ₦386 million.
While acknowledging that VDM has begun spending the funds, Umukoro argued that Nigerians should assess the overall impact of the expenditures on society.
According to him, some projects undertaken by the NGO, including school renovations, could have been achieved through sustained advocacy and pressure on government officials rather than direct intervention funded by public donations.
The commentator also questioned the necessity of maintaining an office and employing personnel to handle complaints related to debts and loans, describing such matters as largely civil disputes.
In the same statement, Umukoro expressed concerns over reports suggesting that public fundraising efforts could be used to assist victims of kidnapping. He argued that widespread public contributions toward ransom payments could unintentionally encourage criminal activities by creating expectations that kidnappers would eventually be paid.
“Don’t allow your fear to push you into destroying the country the more,” he stated, while maintaining that his criticism was offered “with love” as a loyal supporter.
The comments have generated mixed reactions online. Supporters of VDM insist that the activist has remained transparent by publicly displaying donation figures and project expenditures. Critics, however, have called for greater scrutiny and detailed accountability reports to ensure that donated funds are achieving their intended objectives.
As of the time of filing this report, VDM had not publicly responded to the specific concerns raised by Umukoro.
The debate highlights growing public interest in transparency, accountability, and the role of citizen-funded initiatives in addressing social challenges across Nigeria.
