Nigerian filmmaker and actor Stanley Ajemba, popularly known as Stanley Ontop, has stirred fresh controversy after alleging that gospel star Mercy Chinwo was behind the recent arrest of outspoken social critic VeryDarkMan. The claim, made via Instagram on Sunday, May 4, 2025, has added another explosive twist to a case that has already sparked public outrage.
Contrary to earlier speculation that VeryDarkMan’s arrest was linked to a dispute with GTBank, Stanley asserted that the real power behind the move was Chinwo. He accused the gospel singer of using law enforcement as a tool of retaliation, following her previous public fallout with the activist. “GTBank is not responsible for VDM’s arrest. Mercy Chinwo is,” Stanley declared.
In his viral post, the actor didn’t stop at pointing fingers—he expanded his criticism to religious institutions at large. “The Church has become another government agency,” he wrote. “They use the police, EFCC, and even the military to intimidate ordinary citizens. Mercy Chinwo is the problem now, not GTBank.”
VeryDarkMan was picked up by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, May 2, shortly after visiting a GTBank branch in Abuja to report unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account. Although the EFCC has yet to release a formal statement, widespread public support for VDM has triggered protests online under the trending hashtag #FreeVDM.
The gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo, has not publicly responded to the allegations, but online observers point to a series of verbal spats between her and VeryDarkMan in recent months. In several viral videos, the activist had called out popular pastors and gospel artists, accusing them of exploiting followers through music and ministry.
Stanley Ontop’s claims are already dividing opinions online. While some supporters say his revelations reflect the unchecked power of religious elites, others argue he provided no evidence to back his allegations. Still, the timing of his post—just as attention was shifting from the bank to the EFCC—has reignited public interest in the activist’s ongoing detention.
As the scandal continues to unfold, many Nigerians are calling for transparency from both the EFCC and Mercy Chinwo’s camp. Until then, VeryDarkMan’s arrest remains shrouded in speculation, with celebrity voices like Stanley’s pushing the narrative into more controversial and complex territory.
