Outcry is mounting across Nigeria and beyond over the arrest and continued detention of Martins Vincent Otse, the controversial Nigerian social media influencer popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
Otse was arrested on Friday by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a branch of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) in Abuja, where he had reportedly gone with his mother to seek clarification on unexplained debits from her account. His friend, Steven Avuara, also known as C-Pack, was arrested alongside him.
Their arrest has triggered a wave of criticism from legal representatives, celebrities, and concerned citizens, who accuse the anti-graft agency of overreach, human rights violations, and operating outside due process.
Lawyers Cry Foul
VDM’s legal team, led by Deji Adeyanju and his firm, stated that the influencer was picked up without clear charges and detained at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. According to the firm, officers attached to the agency’s Special Duty Committee Unit 4 refused to disclose the grounds for the arrest despite multiple inquiries.
“We were informed that Mr. Otse declined to see anybody, likely due to the physical and psychological trauma from the arrest,” the firm’s associate Zainab Otega said in a statement. “He and his friend were labelled as ‘bandits’ and reportedly threatened at gunpoint in the presence of Mr. Otse’s mother.”
An arrest warrant allegedly issued by Chief Magistrate Njideka Iloanya-Duru on charges of cyberstalking was shown to the lawyers, though details remain unclear. Adeyanju further accused GTBank of enabling the arrest, claiming Otse was locked inside the bank’s exit doors for several minutes until EFCC operatives arrived.
Silence from EFCC and GTBank
As of the time of reporting, neither the EFCC nor GTBank had issued official statements. Calls to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale have gone unanswered, and messages have not been returned.
Celebrity Backlash and Solidarity
The arrest has sparked widespread condemnation, with high-profile voices rallying behind the influencer. Former presidential candidate Peter Obi condemned the EFCC’s handling of the situation, describing it as “akin to an abduction” and warning that such tactics blur the line between law enforcement and lawlessness.
“When security agencies adopt methods that instill fear, they damage public trust in institutions,” Obi said. “This trend undermines our democracy and erodes national security.”
Musician Davido praised the groundswell of support for VDM, describing it as motivation “to do more for the masses.” Seun Kuti, in an Instagram Live session, alleged that a gospel singer was behind the arrest, linking it to previous online clashes over financial improprieties.
Kuti warned against the power religious figures wield in Nigerian society, saying: “If you’re boycotting GTBank, maybe rethink your tithes too — they could be funding oppression.”
Calls for Boycott and Protest
Veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem took a more radical stance, urging Nigerians to shut down their GTBank accounts and stage a boycott in protest.
“Don’t be afraid to speak truth to power. Close your accounts. Let them feel the pressure,” Abdulkareem said in a viral video.
Actress Rita Edochie also weighed in, blasting the EFCC’s failure to release VDM within the constitutionally mandated 24-hour window. “You can’t keep him forever. He is stronger than you,” she declared on Instagram, calling for calm and justice.
Broader Implications
The incident has raised pressing questions about the limits of law enforcement powers, the weaponization of state institutions against dissenting voices, and the growing tension between free speech and perceived defamation on social media.
Analysts warn that the silence from the EFCC and GTBank may only worsen public trust in institutions that already face credibility challenges.
With no formal charges publicly confirmed, and support for VDM surging online, pressure is mounting on Nigerian authorities to act with transparency and fairness — or risk a broader backlash.