The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that popular social media activist, Martins Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), will be released once he fulfills the conditions attached to his bail.
Confirming the development during an interview with BBC News Pidgin on Monday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said, “We will release him if he meets his bail conditions, and we will take the case to court as soon as possible.”
Oyewale explained that VDM’s arrest stemmed from a number of petitions submitted by several individuals accusing the activist of various forms of misconduct.
“We arrested him to respond to a series of allegations raised against him by some petitioners,” he added.
When asked if Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) was one of the petitioners, Oyewale declined to disclose specific names, citing the commission’s obligation to protect the identities of those who submitted the complaints.
VDM’s arrest in Abuja by EFCC operatives has stirred widespread outrage online, with many critics describing it as part of a broader attempt to silence dissenting voices on social media.
The activist’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, alleged that his client was ambushed and detained within GTBank premises, a claim that led to intense speculation and criticism aimed at the bank.
In response, GTBank released a statement accompanied by CCTV footage, distancing itself from the arrest.
The bank stated that the incident did not occur on its premises and called for an impartial investigation to clear the air.
Meanwhile, a wave of public support for VDM surged in the capital on Monday, as protesters assembled outside GTBank’s headquarters in Abuja, demanding the activist’s immediate and unconditional release.
Demonstrators carried placards and chanted slogans in defense of his freedom of speech and expression.
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