Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), was interrogated for several hours on Monday, May 6, 2025, at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja. The questioning followed multiple petitions filed by individuals whose identities have not been officially disclosed.
Sources confirm the interrogation began around 2:30 p.m. and was conducted in the presence of Otse’s legal representatives, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju and barrister Marvin Omorogbe. As of the time of filing this report, both lawyers and their client were still with the agency.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, speaking to BBC News Pidgin, confirmed the activist’s detention. “We arrested him to respond to a series of allegations raised against him by some petitioners,” Oyewale said. He emphasized that the complaints originated from multiple individuals and were not linked solely to a petition from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank).
Oyewale also noted that the Commission planned to arraign Otse in court once he meets the stipulated bail conditions. “We are law-abiding. He will be released when he satisfies the conditions, and the case will proceed to court,” he added.
Otse’s arrest has sparked widespread condemnation, especially after details of the circumstances surrounding the incident emerged. On Friday, Adeyanju revealed that Otse was arrested shortly after visiting the GTBank branch in Area 3, Garki, Abuja, alongside his mother and a friend. The visit, reportedly to address unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account, ended in his arrest.
According to Adeyanju, his client was deliberately trapped inside the bank’s exit door for over five minutes, which allowed EFCC operatives to carry out the arrest. “VDM was locked inside the GTB exit door for over 5 minutes to enable EFCC arrest him and his friend,” he stated, describing the event as a coordinated ambush. He added that legal action would be taken against the bank for what he termed “inhumane treatment.”
The arrest, captured on CCTV and now widely shared online, has drawn significant public backlash, with critics accusing the EFCC of targeting dissenting voices. Human rights group, the Take It Back (TIB) Movement, issued a statement condemning the arrest and demanding Otse’s immediate and unconditional release.
TIB also raised concerns about Otse’s mother, who was present at the time of the arrest but has reportedly gone missing since the incident. “We are deeply worried about her safety and whereabouts,” the group said.
The group emphasized that this is not the first time Otse has been targeted due to his outspokenness on issues such as corruption, social injustice, and abuse of power. Known for his direct and often provocative commentary, VeryDarkMan has built a large following online, frequently clashing with public figures and institutions.
The incident has further ignited public unrest. On Monday, a group of young Nigerians staged a protest outside the GTBank branch in Abuja, waving national flags and displaying placards calling for justice and Otse’s release.
As the case continues to unfold, concerns are mounting about the increasing use of state security apparatus to intimidate and silence social critics. Civil society groups, legal advocates, and thousands of social media users have called for transparency, accountability, and the protection of constitutional rights in the handling of Otse’s case.
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