GTBank scandal: Influencer VDM arrested after outcry

DDM News

Nigerian social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been arrested by the police in Abuja.

Diaspora digital media (DDM) gathered that the arrest followed his public criticism of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) over alleged unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account.

VDM is known for his outspoken and often controversial online presence, where he regularly calls out institutions and public figures.

According to reports, the influencer was arrested on Friday at Area 3 in Abuja by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

His lawyer, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the incident in posts shared on his official social media handle.

Adeyanju described the arrest as unlawful and a clear violation of his client’s constitutional right to freedom of expression.

He stated that the arrest took place at a GTBank branch where VDM had gone to raise concerns about issues with his mother’s account.

According to Adeyanju, the police officers who made the arrest did so under unclear legal grounds and without presenting formal charges.

He also disclosed that VDM was not alone at the time of the arrest.

He was accompanied by a close associate identified as C Park.

Both men were detained by the police and taken away from the bank premises.

However, VDM’s mother, who was also at the scene, was not arrested or taken into custody.

Adeyanju emphasized that seeking transparency from a financial institution should never be treated as a criminal offense.

He wrote: “JUST IN: VDM arrested by the police at GTB. Spoke to them before he was arrested. This is absolutely unacceptable. Demanding accountability is not a crime.”

VDM had recently gone public with accusations against GTBank, alleging that the bank failed to prevent unauthorized transactions on his mother’s account.

He posted multiple videos online expressing his frustration and disappointment with the bank’s response to the issue.

The videos quickly gained traction, sparking widespread discussion and drawing attention to banking practices in Nigeria.

Many of his followers supported his stance and called for stronger consumer protections within the financial sector.

VDM has built a large following by confronting societal issues, government failures, and institutional negligence.

He is known for using his platform to advocate for ordinary Nigerians and expose corruption or abuse of power.

His direct and unfiltered communication style has won him both loyal supporters and harsh critics.

The latest development has sparked public outrage across various online platforms.

Many Nigerians have condemned the arrest, describing it as a targeted attack on freedom of speech.

Civil rights activists have also raised concerns about the growing trend of using police forces to silence digital critics.

Several prominent figures have urged authorities to ensure that justice is served and that the rights of citizens are protected.

As of now, the Nigeria Police Force has not released any official statement regarding the arrest.

GTBank has also remained silent, despite increasing public pressure for a response.

Legal experts suggest that the outcome of this case could influence future interactions between influencers, financial institutions, and law enforcement agencies

More updates are expected as the situation develops.

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