Protesters gathered at the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) headquarters in Abuja on Monday to demand the immediate release of popular social media influencer Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM). The demonstrators, chanting "#FreeVDM," held placards bearing messages such as “Activism is not a sin,” “VDM is the masses’ liberator,” and “VDM has committed no offence.”
The protest follows the recent arrest of Otse by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has sparked widespread criticism on social media. Many Nigerians have condemned the move as an attack on free speech and civic activism, with some accusing GTBank of facilitating the arrest.
According to Otse’s lawyer, human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, his client was apprehended inside GTBank's premises, raising suspicions about the bank's involvement. However, the bank has publicly denied any role in the arrest. In response to the allegations, GTBank released CCTV footage showing VDM exiting the banking hall and walking toward the car park, moments before being taken into custody. The actual arrest, however, is not captured in the footage due to limited camera coverage in that area.
VeryDarkMan is no stranger to controversy. In May 2024, he was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja on five counts related to cyberstalking. The charges stemmed from alleged online attacks against the Nigeria Police Force and Nollywood celebrities Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh. He pleaded not guilty and was detained pending a bail hearing.
Later that year, in November, he was arraigned again—this time before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja—on charges of impersonation. Prosecutors accused him of dressing and acting as a police officer without authorization. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail set at ₦2 million.
As calls for his release grow louder, the protest at GTBank highlights growing concerns over state repression of dissenting voices and the role of private institutions in high-profile arrests.
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