Victoria Mbangwa
Protesters has stormed the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) headquarters, in Abuja on Monday demanding the immediate release of controversial social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), whose arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has ignited nationwide concern over alleged abuse of power.
Chanting “#FreeVDM” and wielding placards bearing slogans like “Activism is not a sin,” “VDM is the masses’ liberator,” and “VDM has committed no offence,” the demonstrators called out what they described as a deliberate attempt to silence a vocal critic of injustice. The protest follows the latest arrest of VeryDarkMan, who was reportedly picked up by EFCC operatives shortly after exiting a GTBank branch.
His legal counsel, activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju, claims the arrest was a coordinated ambush executed within the bank’s premises. However, GTBank has publicly denied the allegation, releasing CCTV footage that shows VDM leaving the banking hall and heading toward the car park moments before his arrest, which was not captured on camera due to blind spots in the surveillance system.
This latest development has stirred questions about the transparency of law enforcement operations and the role if any played by private institutions in aiding such arrests. Social media has since erupted with support for VDM, with thousands rallying under the trending hashtag #FreeVDM.
VDM’s run-ins with the law are not new. In May 2024, he was arraigned on five counts of cyberstalking over alleged harassment of the Nigeria Police Force and Nollywood actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody until his bail hearing. Later in November, he was charged with impersonation after allegedly dressing as a police officer. He again pleaded not guilty and was granted bail set at ₦2 million.
Supporters insist that VDM’s activism often marked by blunt social commentary and viral exposés is being criminalized. Critics, however, argue that his approach often flirts with the boundaries of lawful expression.
