Abuja, Nigeria – May 7, 2025
Popular Nigerian social media activist, Martins 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.
Otse was released on Wednesday evening to his lawyer, human rights advocate Deji Adeyanju, after meeting the conditions for administrative bail earlier set by the commission.
His release was confirmed by fellow activist and presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying:
“Thanks to unrelenting efforts of all, @thatverydarkman has been released from unjust detention at the @officialEFCC! He is with his ebullient lawyer, @adeyanjudeji. #RevolutionNow.”
VDM was arrested last Friday in what sources described as a “Gestapo-style” operation, triggering widespread outrage on social media. Hashtags such as #FreeVeryDarkMan and #JusticeForVDM trended nationally for days, as Nigerians called for his immediate release.
According to the EFCC, the arrest followed multiple petitions filed against Otse, which allegedly contained “grave allegations of financial crimes.” While the petitioners remain unnamed, sources close to the matter said the investigation focused largely on Otse’s online statements and videos accusing the EFCC of internal corruption.
A legal representative from Adeyanju’s law firm, Barrister Marvin Omorogbe, was present during the activist’s lengthy interrogation sessions earlier in the week.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the EFCC confirmed Otse’s arrest and noted that he had been offered bail, but delayed his release was due to the time taken to fulfill the bail conditions. The commission also emphasized that his detention was backed by a valid remand order.
“The EFCC, in the exercise of its mandate of tackling economic and financial crimes, invited Martins Innocent Otse owing to a series of petitions bordering on sundry issues of alleged financial crimes raised against him,” the agency stated.
“His arrest has no connection to his criticisms of the Commission.”
VDM, known for his candid and often controversial takes on national and societal issues, is yet to make a public statement following his release.
