Abuja, Nigeria – May 2, 2025
Popular Nigerian activist and social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), was arrested by police in Abuja on May 2, 2025. According to his lawyer, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, the arrest happened in Area 3 and appears linked to VDM’s recent criticism of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) over alleged unauthorized withdrawals from his mother’s account.
Reports say VDM was arrested alongside a friend, identified as C Park, while his mother was left untouched. Adeyanju claimed the arrest took place at a GTBank branch and suggested the bank may have tipped off authorities about VDM’s whereabouts. A video circulating online shows VDM at the bank shortly before his arrest, though what exactly led to the police intervention remains unclear.
The incident has sparked intense debate on social media. VDM’s close associate, known as Veryfairman, posted a video calling for prayers and warning those responsible for the arrest. One supporter even withdrew all his funds from GTBank in protest, calling the bank’s alleged involvement “a big mistake.” Reactions on X (formerly Twitter) are split—some praise VDM’s outspokenness against injustice, while others question his approach.
This isn’t VDM’s first run-in with the law. In March 2025, a court in Wuse Zone 6 issued a bench warrant for his arrest over alleged criminal defamation of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, after he ignored a court summons. In 2024, he was also detained multiple times over accusations of defamation and cyberstalking but was often released shortly afterward.
While critics argue that his confrontational style invites legal trouble, supporters believe he’s being targeted for challenging corruption and fraud. As of May 3, GTBank and the Nigerian police have yet to release official statements, leaving much of the public conversation fueled by speculation and social media chatter.