by Jeffrey Botimi 4th May 2025
On May 2, 2025, Nigerian activist and social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), was arrested at a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) branch in Abuja. The arrest followed his public complaint about unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account. The individuals who apprehended him were masked, leading to speculation about their affiliation, with some reports suggesting they were operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Department of State Services (DSS).
Prior to his arrest, VDM had been vocal about alleged corruption within the EFCC. In February 2025, he accused the agency of plotting to frame him, citing visits by a prominent lawyer and a social media influencer to the EFCC’s Abuja office. According to VDM, these individuals presented the EFCC with videos and photos of him spraying money at an event, suggesting this as an opportunity to target him due to his criticisms of the commission and its leadership.
VDM also played a role in bringing to light bribery allegations involving the EFCC and Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky. In September 2024, VDM released an audio recording in which Bobrisky purportedly claimed that EFCC officials accepted a N15 million bribe to drop money laundering charges against him. This revelation prompted the EFCC to invite both Bobrisky and VDM for questioning and led to an internal investigation within the commission.
VDM’s outspoken nature has previously led to legal challenges. In 2024, he faced arrests on charges of cyberbullying and defamation, including allegations against public figures and officials . His recent arrest at GTBank has sparked public debate, with supporters arguing that it reflects a pattern of targeting whistleblowers, while critics question the methods and motivations behind his activism.
The arrest of VeryDarkMan underscores the tensions between activism, freedom of expression, and governmental authority in Nigeria. As investigations continue, the incident raises important questions about the treatment of activists and the mechanisms in place to address allegations of corruption within public institutions.
