Martins Vincent Otse, the social media critic popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been released from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody.
Deji Adeyanju, his lawyer, confirmed his release on Wednesday evening via social media.
“VDM released to us on bail. Special thanks to @DAPLawFirm especially the head of our firm @Marvin_Omorogbe. Thank you Nigerians for speaking up for him,” he wrote on X.
“Thank you Egbon @YeleSowore. Thank you HE Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Davido, opposition lawmakers, etc. I must also thank the chairman of EFCC for indulging and listening to all my concerns since on Friday last week and his team. The struggle continues.”
The activist was detained on Friday after visiting a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) branch in Abuja with his mother to address alleged unauthorised withdrawals from her account.
His arrest sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many Nigerians and celebrities demanding his immediate release.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi condemned VDM’s arrest, calling it a “disregard for the rule of law and human rights”.
Atiku Abubakar, the former vice-president, expressed his disappointment with the “continued detention” of the activist without formal charges, describing it as a “violation of his constitutional rights and a sign of growing authoritarianism” in the country.
Davido also joined the outcry, praising the widespread support for VeryDarkMan as “proof that genuine activism impacts lives”.
On Tuesday, the EFCC revealed that VDM was arrested following multiple petitions by unnamed individuals accusing him of “financial malfeasance”.
The commission claimed he had repeatedly ignored invitations sent through his known channels, which led to his eventual arrest.
