Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), a prominent Nigerian social media influencer and activist, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This development was confirmed by activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju, who reported that VDM was arrested alongside a friend. According to Adeyanju, VDM refused to leave his cell and declined to meet with anyone. He also alleged that VDM was confined in a restricted area for over five minutes to facilitate the arrest .
Earlier reports indicated that Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) had ordered VDM’s arrest following his criticism of the bank over alleged unauthorized transactions from his mother’s account. However, Adeyanju has stated that legal actions will be taken against GTB for the alleged inhumane treatment of their client .
This incident adds to a series of legal challenges faced by VDM. In March 2025, a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest over allegations of criminal defamation against gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. VDM had failed to appear in court after being summoned, leading to the warrant being issued .
VDM’s legal troubles have attracted significant attention, with various human rights activists and legal professionals monitoring the situation closely. His case raises pertinent questions about freedom of expression and the legal boundaries of online criticism in Nigeria.