The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria has confirmed the arrest of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, commonly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), following multiple petitions lodged against him.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale conveyed this information to BBC News Pidgin on Monday, stating that VeryDarkMan was detained to address various allegations made by several petitioners. “We arrested him to respond to a series of allegations raised against him by some petitioners,” Oyewale explained.
When questioned about a potential link to Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Oyewale clarified that the petitions originated from different individuals, emphasising the agency’s responsibility to protect them.
He further indicated that the commission intends to bring charges against the activist soon, stating, “We will release him when he meets the bail conditions and we will take the case to court as soon as possible; we are law-abiding.”
In response to the arrest, the Take It Back Movement has called for Otse’s immediate and unconditional release. The group noted that he was apprehended on Thursday, May 2, 2025, shortly after visiting a GTBank branch in Area 3, Garki, Abuja. Otse reportedly went to the bank with his mother and an associate to address unauthorised deductions from his mother’s account at the time of his arrest.
CCTV footage of the incident, which has circulated widely online, has prompted outrage and concerns, with many alleging that the arrest was a targeted effort to silence a prominent critic of government and institutional misconduct.
In a press release issued on Sunday, Adekunle Adeyemi Taofeek (Scotty Aluta), Lagos State Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, described the arrest as “unlawful” and “premeditated,” accusing both the EFCC and GTB of complicity in what they termed an abuse of power. The group also expressed concern over the disappearance of Otse’s mother, who was present during the arrest, stating that her current whereabouts remain unknown.
The press statement further highlighted that this is not the first instance of Mr. Otse being targeted for his outspoken views on issues of injustice, corruption, and societal problems. “The Take It Back Movement condemns in strong terms the unlawful arrest and continued detention of popular activist and social media commentator, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” the statement read.
“Mr. Otse was arrested on Thursday, May 2, 2025, shortly after exiting the GTBank branch in Area 3, Garki, Abuja, where he had gone alongside his mother and an associate to inquire about unauthorized deductions from his mother’s bank account. His arrest, captured on CCTV and now publicly circulating, appears premeditated and raises serious questions about abuse of power and the increasing use of state security agencies to silence critical voices. Worse still, his mother, who was with him at the time, remains missing, and her whereabouts are unknown — a deeply troubling development that only further underscores the lawless conduct of the agencies involved.”
