The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is expected to release popular social media personality Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), on Tuesday after several days in detention.
According to The Nation, the EFCC is also preparing to formally charge him in court on Thursday. A senior EFCC official, who spoke anonymously, confirmed on Monday that although Otse remains in custody, no formal charges have yet been filed.
Otse was arrested following his public accusations against a commercial bank, which he alleged facilitated unauthorized withdrawals from his mother’s account. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that both Otse and an associate, identified as C Park, were apprehended by police officers.
The arrest triggered public outrage and a protest in Abuja on Monday. Demonstrators marched from the EFCC headquarters to the bank in question, demanding Otse’s immediate release and greater accountability. Protesters carried placards challenging the legality of his detention and questioned whether President Bola Tinubu had any involvement. They also pledged to escalate the matter to the Nigerian Human Rights Commission.