Popular Nigerian social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), was taken into custody on Friday 2nd May 2025 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Initial reports indicated that Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) may have played a role in VDM’s arrest, which followed his public criticism of the bank after claims of unauthorised transactions from his mother’s account.
His arrest has triggered strong reactions online, with many questioning the alleged role of the bank involved in what critics are calling a targeted crackdown.
Why Really Was VDM Arrested?
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that the social critic was detained following petitions submitted by unidentified individuals.
“We have some petitions against him that we are working on. He has some issues with us,” said Mr Oyewale.
GTB Reaction
As of press time, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) has not issued any public statement regarding the arrest of Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
VDM’s Lawyer’s Reaction
VDM’s arrest and confirmation came from activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju, who shared details in a post on his official Facebook page Friday evening.
According to Adeyanju, VDM was held inside the exit door of the bank for more than five minutes, an action he described as deliberate to allow EFCC officials to carry out the arrest.
“VDM was locked inside the GTB exit door for over 5 mins to enable EFCC arrest him and his friend,” Adeyanju said.
In a later update, Adeyanju explained that a team of lawyers from his firm, led by Marvin_Omorogbe, had met with VDM’s friend, who was also arrested and held at EFCC custody.
“VDM refused to come out of the cell; that he won’t see anyone.
“We have located VDM and are working on getting him out. Our lawyers are now with him,” Adeyanju added.
He further stated, “We will be taking legal actions against GTB for the inhumane treatment meted out to our client.”
Social Media Reactions
The arrest has drawn criticism from netizens, civil society groups, and activists, many of whom are calling for the immediate release of the social commentator.
Political activist Omoyele Sowore, in a Facebook post on Sunday, suggested that the EFCC is now trying to justify VDM’s detention by preparing to bring him before a court on Monday.
“It has been established that the EFCC unlawfully arrested and detained Martins Vincent Otse, aka VDM, as a means to silence him for accusing the agency and its leaders of corruption and malfeasance.
“The EFCC is currently exploring legal avenues to charge him to court, possibly tomorrow, in an attempt to legitimise their actions,” Mr Sowore stated.
Mr Obi in a statement posted on his X page on Sunday described the arrest of VeryDarkMan (VDM) to an abduction, highlighting concerns over the excessive use of force, lack of transparency, and absence of civility during the process.
He cautioned that such methods of arrest could instill fear among citizens and potentially be mimicked by criminals.
He said, “The recent developments in our nation continue to raise serious concerns about our direction as a democracy. The tension in the land aggravated by hardship is needlessly fueled by our attitude to the rule of law and human rights. The arrest of Martin Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), though perhaps within the legal rights of security agencies, left many Nigerians unsettled.
“If Nigerians begin to struggle to distinguish between legitimate arrests and unlawful abductions, we will lose a vital layer of national security and accountability. This trend is not new. We must recall that even our esteemed judges, the last line of defence for justice, have suffered similar indignities in recent years. When those who interpret the law are treated with such disregard, it is difficult to expect ordinary citizens to feel protected under the law.”
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