Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) is facing intense backlash following the controversial arrest of Nigerian social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Legal representatives from Deji Adeyanju & Partners claim VDM and his associate, Steven Avuara, were ambushed by armed men shortly after leaving a GTBank branch in Garki, Abuja. According to the lawyers, the men were beaten, blindfolded, and forcibly taken to EFCC headquarters without being informed of the specific charges against them.
The incident allegedly occurred after VDM and his mother, Mrs. Blessing Otse, visited the bank to complain about suspicious deductions from her account. Moments after their exit, they were detained in the bank’s security door before being seized by men in black uniforms.
Eyewitness accounts from Avuara suggest that the arresting officers labelled them “bandits” and threatened to shoot them in front of VDM’s mother. The lawyers say Mrs. Otse’s current whereabouts are unknown.
The EFCC has so far only presented an arrest warrant for VDM on allegations of cyber stalking, issued by a Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate. However, no warrant or clear accusation has been made public regarding Avuara.
Prominent figures including musician Skales and activist Deji Adeyanju have joined the chorus of condemnation. Skales described GTBank as “the worst bank in Nigeria,” accusing it of mishandling his late mother’s salary. Meanwhile, Adeyanju vowed to shut down his GTB accounts and pursue legal action.
As public outrage grows, the EFCC has yet to provide an official explanation for the alleged abuse and the precise charges involved. Calls are mounting for transparency, justice, and accountability from both the EFCC and GTBank.
