Social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, publicly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following days of legal negotiations.
His release was confirmed on Wednesday in Abuja by his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
“VDM has been released. I undertook to produce him whenever required by the Commission or the court,” Adeyanju said. “The EFCC, particularly its chairman Ola Olukoyede, was cooperative throughout this process, and for that, I am grateful.”
The influencer’s arrest on Friday, May 2 after exiting a GTBank branch in Abuja, stirred some protests both on the streets and online. He had gone to the bank over a complaint regarding “unauthorized deductions” from his mother’s account.
Chants of “Free VDM” and “Activism is not a crime” echoed across Abuja during demonstrations, while the hashtag #FreeVDM trended across social media platforms. Some Nigerians viewed the detention as an assault on free speech and a targeted attempt to silence a vocal government critic. Protesters also accused GTBank of complicity, an allegation the bank has since denied.
VDM is no stranger to controversy. In 2024, he faced charges of cyberstalking and impersonation involving the Nigeria Police Force. He is also currently embroiled in multiple defamation lawsuits, including a ₦1 billion suit from celebrity Bobrisky and a separate case involving gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale had earlier stated that VDM would be freed once bail conditions were met. However, as of press time on Wednesday, no formal charges had been filed, prompting renewed concerns about the legality of the arrest and its implications for civil liberties.