The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained the reason behind the arrest of social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), saying it was based on several petitions against him.
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EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale disclosed this during an interview with BBC Pidgin on Monday, stating that VDM would be released once he meets his bail conditions. Oyewale said the commission would charge the case to court soon, stressing that the arrest followed “multiple petitions bordering on alleged misconduct.”
While the EFCC did not reveal the identities of the petitioners, it said protecting their privacy was important.
VDM’s arrest in Abuja triggered online uproar, with some Nigerians accusing the anti-graft agency of targeting voices critical of the government. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, alleged that the activist was ambushed and arrested at a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) branch. However, GTBank refuted this claim and released CCTV footage to show the arrest happened outside its premises.
The bank also called for a full investigation to clarify the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
In a separate development, a group of protesters gathered at GTBank’s Abuja headquarters demanding VDM’s unconditional release. They carried placards and chanted slogans, insisting that his continued detention was unjust.
