Amid controversy over the arrest of social media influencer, Martins Otse aka Verydarkman, VDM, protesters have stormed one of the branches of Guaranty Trust Bank, Abuja demanding his immediate release.
The influencer was arrested last week by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, while he went to bank to lodge a complaint over alleged infraction in his mother’s bank account.
On Monday, dozens of protesters stormed the bank in the nation’s capital, demanding that the influencer be freed.
Chanting “FreeVDM” the placards carrying protesters said VDM is being harassed because of his “activism” and criticism of the authority, describing him as the “masses liberator”.
They said he had committed no “offence” to warrant his arrest by the EFCC.
The magazine reports that VDM was arrested by the anti-graft agency on allegation bordering on cyber stalking.
The arrest has sparked outrage online and raised questions about the bank’s alleged complicity in what critics describe as a targeted crackdown.
His arrest has generated serious backlash after prominent Nigerians, including the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi condemned the EFCC action, and also called for his release.
His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju claimed that VDM was ambushed by the bank for the EFCC to arrest him. The has denied the claim that the influencer was arrested at its premises.
This is not the first time VDM will have problems with the EFCC. His clashed with the agency started in May 2024, when he was arraigned at an Abuja High court for cyber stalking. The EFCC will later charged him to court in 2024 for alleged impersonation, after he put on the Nigerian Police uniform in one of his social media broadcast
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