“Our lives are no longer safe”, Barbara Odoh alleges EFCC stole her project

Nigerian actress and filmmaker, Barbara Odoh, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of hijacking her digital anti-fraud platform, BSafe Transact, and appealed to the Presidency, national human rights agencies, and international organisations to intervene.

Odoh, who developed the platform from years of academic research and personal experience, said BSafe Transact is designed to facilitate secure trade between Nigeria and the global market, helping businesses and individuals verify partners and conduct safe transactions. She described the project as “a humanitarian solution to restore confidence in Nigerian commerce abroad.”

The actress alleged that she formally presented BSafe Transact to the EFCC in January 2025 before a five-member panel led by the Commission’s former Head of IT, Isa Abdullahi.

She recalled that Abdullahi assured her of strong support for the project, reportedly saying: “It is going to be a serious partnership, this thing has to be sold to the public. Definitely, definitely, you will be invited for a broader meeting; this is certain! The big boss will definitely send for you!! The earlier we do this, the better; I just pray it will be the first project we embark on this year. We’ve seen so many things in this office, before you know it, somebody will run, go to Oyibo land, one white man will come and be speaking slangs and will change it from BSafe to another name.”

Odoh alleged that after the presentation, communication from the EFCC stalled abruptly, and she later observed that content creator Martins Vincent Otse, alias Very Dark Man, was promoting a strikingly similar concept in China, the same international launch region she had proposed.

Threats and Intimidation

Odoh raised concerns for her safety, claiming that she and her son have been receiving repeated calls from unknown numbers, often late at night, with callers staying silent or hanging up abruptly.

“We are being watched. Our lives are at risk. I will not compromise my rights,” she said.

She also alleged that followers of Very Dark Man have sent threats via social media, warning her to drop her claims.

Further, Odoh said her BSafe Transact website and domain were flagged as fraudulent, including labels such as scam, phishing, and malicious transactions, despite the site never being used commercially beyond controlled demonstrations at the EFCC. She said her domain has now been frozen, preventing her from renewing or accessing it.

“There is no reason for my platform to be flagged. Someone is trying to frame me and destroy my work,” she said.

During a recent EFCC visit accompanied by her lawyer, Barr. Kingsley Arah, Odoh said she was told: “He who asserts must prove,” a statement she interpreted as dismissive of her claims.

Appeal for Intervention

Odoh has called on the Presidency, National Assembly Committees on ICT and Human Rights, National Human Rights Commission, and international IP protection bodies to intervene.

“I am a hard-working Nigerian who has spent years developing a platform to uplift the country. I am simply asking for justice, protection, and fairness,” she said.

The actress emphasized that BSafe Transact is not only her intellectual property but a project with potential national and international impact.

As at press time, the EFCC had not responded to the allegations, and efforts to reach its spokesperson were unsuccessful.