Abuja, Nigeria — A popular Nigerian social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan, has been arrested by the Nigerian Police in Abuja following a directive from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank). The arrest comes after the influencer publicly raised concerns about alleged unauthorized debits from his mother’s GTBank account.
VeryDarkMan, who is known for his candid posts and critiques on social media, had taken to his platforms to expose what he called unauthorized loan repayments debited from his mother’s account, despite her never having taken out any loan with the bank.
Details of the Arrest
Barrister Deji Adeyanju, the legal representative for VeryDarkMan, confirmed the arrest, stating that his client was apprehended on Friday by police officers in the Area 3 area of Abuja. According to Adeyanju, the arrest stems from the influencer’s public complaints regarding unauthorized debits from his mother’s bank account, which had led to considerable confusion and frustration.
“My client, VeryDarkMan, was arrested today in Abuja. His only offense was speaking out about the suspicious and repeated debits from his mother’s GTBank account for loans she never took,” Adeyanju said in a statement.
Earlier, VeryDarkMan had posted on his social media platforms expressing his concern about the unexplained deductions. He described his visit with his mother to the GTBank branch in Abuja to investigate the situation. In a viral post, he said, “We’ve requested her bank statements to know when the debiting started. So far, in this year alone, there have been more than seven debits on loan repayments. GTBank staff are cooperating—hopefully, we’ll know why they keep doing this.”
Similar Cases in Recent Months
This incident follows a similar case in April 2025 when another Nigerian, Ariyo Ahmed Adewale, accused GTBank of orchestrating his arrest after he raised alarm over unauthorized debits from his account linked to online shopping platform Jumia. Ariyo’s case drew attention to issues of banking transparency and customer service, with many questioning the safety of personal banking information and the rights of consumers.
Both VeryDarkMan and Ariyo’s cases have sparked an ongoing debate in Nigeria regarding the practices of banks in handling customer accounts, the responsibility of financial institutions to ensure clarity in transactions, and the actions taken when customers seek answers.
Public Outcry and Banking Transparency Concerns
The arrest of VeryDarkMan, a high-profile social media figure, has garnered widespread attention and has led to public calls for better transparency and accountability from Nigerian banks. Consumer rights activists and social media users have expressed their concerns about the extent to which banks may go to suppress customer complaints, while many are questioning the authority granted to banks in handling such disputes.
Bank’s Position on the Matter
At the time of writing, GTBank has not issued an official statement regarding the arrest or the allegations raised by VeryDarkMan. The bank, however, has faced increasing scrutiny over its handling of consumer complaints related to unauthorized transactions.
Next Steps
VeryDarkMan’s legal team has vowed to take the matter to court, seeking justice for what they term as unlawful actions by the bank. They also plan to push for a full investigation into the alleged unauthorized debits from the account and the treatment of VeryDarkMan following his complaints.
As this story continues to unfold, it is expected to prompt more conversations around the integrity of Nigeria’s banking system, particularly with regard to the protection of consumer rights and financial accountability.
