Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after spending five days in detention.

His release was confirmed on Wednesday by his legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, who spoke exclusively to Vanguard in Abuja.

"VDM has been released. I undertook to produce him whenever required by the Commission or the court," Adeyanju stated. "I must say that the EFCC, particularly its chairman Ola Olukoyede, was cooperative throughout the process, and for that, I am grateful."

VDM was arrested on May 2, 2025, at a GTBank branch in Abuja, where he had gone to address unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account. Contrary to initial reports that he was apprehended inside the bank, CCTV footage later showed that the arrest occurred in the car park.

The incident quickly drew national attention, sparking protests in Abuja and an online outcry. Demonstrators took to the streets chanting slogans such as “Free VDM” and “Activism is not a crime,” while online supporters accused both the EFCC and GTBank of attempting to silence a government critic—allegations the bank has denied.

VDM's detention revived debates around freedom of expression and the treatment of activists in Nigeria. He has previously faced legal battles including allegations of cyberstalking, impersonation, and defamation. Notably, he is the subject of a ₦1 billion lawsuit from Bobrisky and another from gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale had earlier indicated that VDM would be released once bail conditions were met.

As of press time, no formal charges have been filed against VDM, raising fresh questions about the legal basis for his arrest and what it means for the future of digital activism in Nigeria.