Protesters on Monday, stormed the Abuja Guaranty Trust Bank demanding for the release of renowned social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
The protesters gathered at the headquarters of bank in the early hours of Monday to demand the release of the detained VeryDarkMan.
The demonstrators held placards with inscriptions like “#FreeVDM,” “Activism is not a sin,” “VDM is the masses’ liberator,” and “VDM has committed no offence.”
It would be recalled that VeryDarkMan was apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of cyberstalking.
His arrest has incited widespread anger on social media and raised doubts about the bank’s supposed involvement in what many critics view as a deliberate suppression.
As per his attorney, activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju, VeryDarkMan was captured unexpectedly by EFCC agents within the GTBank location.
The bank refuted this assertion and issued CCTV recordings, indicating that the social media figure was not detained on their property, and called for a more thorough investigation.
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In the recorded footage, VDM is observed exiting the banking area and walking towards the parking lot shortly preceding his detention.
Nonetheless, the video fails to document the actual apprehension, likely due to the surveillance cameras not covering that particular section outside the bank.
Remember that in May 2024, he was brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja on five charges related to cyberstalking.
These accusations arose from alleged digital harassment directed at the police and Nollywood actresses, Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh.
He entered a plea of not guilty and was ordered to remain in custody pending his bail hearing.
Subsequently, in November 2024, he confronted new charges of impersonation in front of an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Prosecutors claimed that he unlawfully donned a police uniform and represented himself as an officer. He once again pleaded not guilty and was granted bail set at ₦2 million.
