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By Myke Agunwa
Following the arrest of social media activist, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM) at the premises of Guaranty Trust Bank in Abuja last week, protesters on Monday stormed the bank headquarters, demanding his immediate release.
The protesters who gathered in large numbers with various inscriptions like “Activism is not a sin”, “VDM is the masses’ liberator”, “VDM has committed no offence” on their placards were chanting “#FreeVDM” songs and efforts to barricade the banks entrance were resisted by security operatives attached to the bank that insisted that they must go to a corner or leave the area.
VDM was recently arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of cyberstalking after he went to the bank to lodge a complaint about illegal deductions from his mothers account.
According to his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, VDM was ambushed by EFCC operatives inside the GTBank premises.
The bank however denied the allegation and released a CCTV footage that showed that the social media influencer was picked outside its premises, and urged that further investigations should be conducted.
In the video, VDM is seen leaving the banking hall and heading towards the car park moments before his arrest.
However, the footage does not capture the actual arrest, most likely because the security cameras did not cover that specific area outside the bank.
Earlier in May 2024, VDM was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja on five counts of cyberstalking. The charges stemmed from alleged online harassment of the Nigeria Police Force and Nollywood actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody until he was granted bail.
Also in November 2024, VDM faced fresh charges of impersonation before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court. Prosecutors accused him of unlawfully dressing as a police officer and presenting himself as one. He again pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of ₦2 million.