A wave of protest erupted in Abuja on Monday as demonstrators gathered outside Guaranty Trust Bank’s head office, demanding the immediate release of online personality Martins Otse, widely recognized by his alias, VeryDarkMan.
Chanting the hashtag “#FreeVDM,” the protesters brandished placards bearing messages like “Activism is not a crime,” “VDM stands for the people,” and “He is innocent.”
The show of solidarity comes in response to Otse’s recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accuses him of cyberstalking.
Critics allege that GTBank may have played a role in facilitating his arrest, a claim that has drawn widespread backlash and calls for accountability. However, the bank refuted the allegations, releasing CCTV footage to support its defense.
The video shows Otse leaving the banking hall and heading toward the car park shortly before his arrest, though the actual moment of his apprehension was not recorded.
Otse’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, maintains that EFCC operatives apprehended him within the bank’s premises.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of how security agencies handle high-profile arrests, especially those involving outspoken critics of public figures.
It’s worth noting that in May 2024, Otse was arraigned on multiple cyberstalking charges related to online posts targeting the Nigeria Police and actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh. He pleaded not guilty and was held pending a bail decision.
Later that year, in November, he faced a separate legal battle involving charges of impersonating a police officer. He again maintained his innocence and was granted bail set at ₦2 million.