Controversial Social Media Activist VeryDarkMan Arrested Over Bank Criticism, Sparks Protest in Abuja
Abuja – Social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been arrested following his public criticism of a commercial bank over alleged unauthorized withdrawals from his mother’s account.
His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the arrest in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Otse was detained alongside his friend, C Park, by a team of police officers.
A senior official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), speaking anonymously, verified the arrest on Monday. Although Otse remains in custody, he has not yet been formally arraigned. Sources indicate he may be released on Tuesday, but there are also reports, notably from The Nation, that he could face formal charges in court by Thursday.
In reaction to his detention, a group of Abuja youths took to the streets on Monday, marching from the EFCC headquarters to the implicated bank. Carrying placards, the protesters condemned Otse’s arrest as unlawful, demanded his immediate release, and called for greater transparency. They also pledged to escalate the matter to the Nigerian Human Rights Commission if their demands are not addressed.