A group of young Nigerians staged a demonstration at a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) branch in Abuja to protest the continued arrest of popular social media commentator, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The protesters gathered in front of the GTBank branch located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), displaying placards with various inscriptions and waving the national flag as they demanded justice for the activist. VDM was reportedly arrested on Thursday, May 2, 2025, shortly after completing a visit to the bank’s Area 3 branch in Garki, Abuja.
READ ALSO: EFCC arrests social activist VeryDarkMan
The circumstances surrounding his arrest have stirred public outrage, with many accusing GTBank of colluding with the EFCC to engineer his detention.
This suspicion has intensified calls for accountability and sparked widespread criticism on social media platforms.
Human rights advocate and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, on X condemned the arrest, alleging that VDM was deliberately trapped within the bank’s exit doors for several minutes to enable EFCC operatives to apprehend him.
“VDM was locked inside the GTB exit door for over five minutes to enable EFCC to arrest him and his friend,” Adeyanju stated in a social media post. “We will take legal action against GTB for this treatment.”
Adeyanju further revealed that his legal team, headed by Marvin Omorogbe, has located VDM in EFCC custody.“Our lawyers are now with him, and we are working on securing his release,” he added.
Although the EFCC has yet to disclose specific charges against Otse, his arrest has fueled concern about the misuse of anti-corruption agencies to suppress dissenting voices. VDM is known for his fearless commentary on issues relating to governance, corruption, and the political elite in Nigeria.
His detention has sparked a wave of criticism online, with citizens accusing both GTBank and the EFCC of using heavy-handed tactics against a vocal critic.
The Abuja protesters have called for full disclosure on the reasons for his arrest and are demanding his immediate release.
In latest development, a source within the EFCC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrest on Sunday, stating: “We picked him up based on several complaints that he used his social media platforms to harass, insult, and intimidate individuals — actions that may contravene the Cybercrimes Act of 2015.”
 branch in Abuja to protest the continued arrest of popular social media commentator, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).){kind=link}