From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
The legal team of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has clarified that Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) was not involved in his recent arrest in Abuja. The statement addresses online speculation linking the bank to the incident.
VDM’s arrest sparked widespread social media reactions. Some users claimed GTBank played a role because VDM had visited a branch to complain about alleged unauthorised transactions from his mother’s account. However, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, a human rights lawyer on VDM’s legal team, dismissed these claims.
“There is no connection between GTBank and the arrest of my client,” Adeyanju said. “It happened in an entirely different location and was conducted by state actors.” He clarified that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested VDM in Area 3, hours after his bank visit.
Legal sources confirmed no evidence links GTBank to the arrest or any collaboration with law enforcement. The bank faced online backlash, which commentators called premature and misinformed. Political analyst Isaac Asabor noted, “GTBank simply received a complaint from a customer and had no further involvement. Yet, they were quickly portrayed as complicit, despite a lack of facts supporting that claim.”
The EFCC has not disclosed specific charges or details about VDM’s detention, leaving questions about its transparency. Analysts stress the need for fact-based reporting to counter misinformation, especially online.
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