The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to release social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, with plans to formally charge him in court on Thursday, May 8, according to a senior EFCC official cited by The Nation. Otse, arrested on Friday, May 2, in Abuja’s Wuse district alongside his friend Stephen Avuara (C Park), remains in custody pending bail conditions, as confirmed by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale in a BBC News Pidgin interview. The arrest, linked to multiple petitions alleging cyberstalking under Nigeria‘s Cybercrimes Act of 2015, followed Otse’s public criticism of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) over unauthorized withdrawals from his mother’s account, which he detailed in a viral Instagram video.
The arrest sparked widespread outrage, with Abuja youths protesting on Monday, marching from EFCC headquarters to a GTBank branch, wielding placards with slogans like “Free VDM!” and “End selective justice!” They condemned the detention as unlawful, questioned potential political motives involving President Bola Tinubu, and vowed to escalate complaints to the Nigerian Human Rights Commission, per Daily Post and Legit.ng. Otse’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who visited him on May 5, expressed confusion over the lack of a clear petition, stating on X, “EFCC said there’s no petition against him after our repeated demands,” and alleged GTBank locked Otse in an exit door to facilitate his arrest. Adeyanju’s firm plans legal action against the bank for “inhumane treatment.”
The EFCC denies GTBank solely prompted the arrest, with Oyewale clarifying to BBC that complaints came from multiple individuals, not just the bank, and the agency is “law-abiding” in pursuing charges. However, the operation, involving EFCC, DSS, and police, has fueled accusations of a crackdown on dissent, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi condemning the arrest’s “disturbing method” as a threat to democracy. Protests and X posts, like @YeleSowore’s claim that EFCC is “exploring legal avenues to silence him,” reflect public distrust, with @TIBmovement calling the detention “unacceptable.” Critics, including lawyer Mojisola Keyi, warn that such actions erode trust in Nigeria’s institutions, citing 2023 Freedom House reports on declining press freedom.
Otse’s case highlights Nigeria’s contentious cybercrime laws, previously used against journalists and activists, with 2024 Amnesty International data noting 25 arrests for online expression. Supporters, including Davido and Skales, have rallied behind VDM, with Davido’s X post praising the “united youthful voice” demanding his release. While EFCC’s Oyewale insists Otse will be freed upon meeting bail terms, the planned Thursday arraignment suggests a prolonged legal battle, with public sentiment on X, like @TheFishMagnate’s accusation of EFCC “cooking up charges,” signaling ongoing tensions over free speech and institutional accountability.
Leave a comment