Nigerian social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has become quite the household name in recent years. Known for calling out public figures, politicians, and influencers on various issues, VDM’s confrontational style has earned him both devoted followers and powerful enemies.Over the past few years, he’s been arrested multiple times, mostly on charges related to cyberbullying, defamation, and cyberstalking, sparking public debates about free speech in Nigeria.Here is a timeline of VDM’s different run-ins with the law:VDM was arrested on allegations of cyberbullying and cyberstalking, including making false accusations against Tonto Dikeh and Iyabo Ojo. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in police custody until his hearing on May 29, 2024. After two weeks in detention, he was released.
October 2024 : Arrested after ‘Police uniform fiasco’
In October 2024, the renowned critic was invited by the Nigerian police after a video of him wearing the police uniform went viral. Said video raked in different reactions online, with many slamming him for abusing the uniform.’
However, after honouring the invitation, VDM was detained by the police and the news was confirmed by his lawyer Deji Adeyanju.His post read, “Our client, VDM, has been detained after honouring a police invitation just like yesterday. VDM has been consistent in stating that the Nigerian Police are our friends, even when we all know they are not.”VDM was subsequently released from detention.
March 2025: Arrest Warrant issued for the defamation of Mercy Chinwo
In March 2025, the Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Very Dark Man (VDM) over the alleged defamation of Nigerian gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the bench warrant on Thursday, March 13, 2025, following VeryDarkMan’s failure to appear before the magistrate after being summoned on March 5, 2025. However, he was never arrested for this.
May 2025: Arrested at Abuja Bank
On Friday, May 2, 2025, VDM was arrested after going to a bank with a friend, immediately sparking reactions and widespread outrage, According to his lawyer,Adeyanju, the outspoken activist was apprehended inside a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) branch alongside a friend, identified only as C Park.“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,” Adeyanju said in a social media post.EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale disclosed on Monday that VDM was taken into custody after several individuals submitted petitions accusing him of online harassment.
“We arrested him to respond to a series of allegations raised against him by some petitioners,” Oyewale told BBC News Pidgin.
He further stated that the commission plans to arraign the activist in court soon.
“We will release him when he meets the bail conditions, and we will take the case to court as soon as possible. We are law-abiding,” he added.
Although some online speculations linked the arrest to Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), Oyewale clarified that the complaints came from different individuals and were unrelated to the bank.
“The agency owes petitioners a duty of protection,” he said. VDM was reportedly arrested by EFCC officials on Friday.
His detention follows a public video he posted announcing his intention to visit a GTBank branch in Abuja to lodge a complaint about alleged unauthorised deductions from his mother’s bank account.
While the EFCC has not disclosed full details of the charges, the case has stirred conversations online, with many of VDM’s followers demanding transparency and fair treatment.
