Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after spending five days in detention.
His release was confirmed on Wednesday evening, May 7, 2025, by his lawyer Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore, who both took to social media to share the news. “Thanks to unrelenting efforts of all, @thatverydarkman has been released from unjust detention at the @officialEFCC. He is with his ebullient lawyer,” Sowore wrote via X.
The EFCC had earlier stated that VDM was arrested over multiple petitions alleging financial crimes. According to the commission, he ignored several invitations before being picked up in Abuja. His arrest drew public attention after CCTV footage showed that he was apprehended in a car park, contradicting initial reports that the arrest occurred inside a GTBank branch where he was addressing issues related to his mother’s account.
The detention triggered public protests in Abuja and a wave of online solidarity, with many accusing the EFCC of targeting the outspoken critic to silence dissent. Chants of “Free VDM” echoed in the capital as demonstrators called for his immediate release and questioned the role of GTBank in the incident—a charge the bank has since denied.
Despite being granted administrative bail earlier, VDM’s lawyer complained that the EFCC delayed formalizing the bail conditions. His release was eventually secured late Wednesday, after the EFCC handed him over to his legal counsel. As of now, the exact terms of the bail remain undisclosed, and it is unclear whether formal charges will follow.
