A crowd of angry citizens rallied in front of GTBank’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday to protest the detention of controversial social media figure Martins Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan.
Protesters held signs with bold statements like “VDM is a voice for the voiceless,” and “Speaking truth isn’t a crime,” calling for his immediate freedom.
The arrest, carried out by EFCC officials, has fueled public dissent, with many accusing the bank of being complicit in a politically motivated operation.
Deji Adeyanju, a human rights lawyer representing Otse, claims his client was cornered and taken into custody by EFCC agents while inside the bank. GTBank, however, denied this version of events.
In a statement accompanied by surveillance footage, the bank clarified that Otse had exited the banking hall and was en route to the parking lot prior to his arrest.
The cameras reportedly did not capture the exact arrest due to coverage limitations.
Otse’s legal troubles date back to May 2024 when he was charged with five counts of cyberstalking, allegedly for harassing public officials and celebrities online. He was remanded following a not-guilty plea.
Later that year, he faced additional accusations of impersonation for allegedly posing as a police officer, though he secured bail after denying the charges.
The incident has since ignited a national debate on freedom of expression, the role of financial institutions in law enforcement actions, and the limits of online activism.
