The Plateau State Police Command has refuted claims of being involved in the investigation of the alleged theft of N180 million from the Martins Vincent Otse Initiative, an NGO founded by VeryDarkMan (VDM).
Speaking on the matter, the Police Public Relations Officer for Plateau State, DSP Alabo Alfred, explained that the case was neither reported to the command nor committed within its jurisdiction.
“The matter was not reported to us, and the crime did not occur within our jurisdiction. If he said he was heading to Jos, it does not mean the Plateau State Police Command is handling the case. The crime reportedly happened in Abuja,” Alfred clarified.
VeryDarkMan previously disclosed that hackers stole N180 million from his NGO’s account, noting that suspects had been tracked and one arrest made. He also mentioned plans to travel to Jos in pursuit of the matter.
Alfred, however, clarified that any investigation into the case would involve the appropriate jurisdiction.
“If the case was reported at the Force CID level, then the Force PRO is responsible for speaking on it. If it was reported to the FCT Command, their spokesperson would handle the matter. We cannot comment on a case that did not happen in our jurisdiction,” he stated.
He added that officers from the investigating jurisdiction could come to Jos to continue their inquiries if needed but would report back to their originating command.
Similarly, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has stated that it is not investigating the alleged theft. Its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, emphasized that no such case had been reported to the command.
“The FCT Police Command is not aware of any case involving VDM’s missing funds and is not conducting an investigation into it. The individual should clarify where the matter was reported, as there is no record of such a case with the FCT Command,” Adeh explained.
The Martins Vincent Otse Initiative, launched in October to tackle Nigeria’s educational challenges, had received significant contributions, including a ₦100 million donation from music producer Don Jazzy.
The hacking incident has drawn attention to the need for stronger cybersecurity measures to safeguard NGOs’ financial systems, especially in the face of rising cyber threats.
As investigations unfold, questions remain about the efficiency and coordination of law enforcement responses to high-profile cybercrime cases.
