The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has released Martins Otse, a well-known social media activist popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
His release was confirmed on Wednesday by his legal counsel, Deji Adeyanju, “He has been released.”
Otse was arrested on several petitions reportedly major financial crimes, and he has been in EFCC detention since Friday, May 2.
The EFCC, in a statement on Tuesday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, made it known that the controversial online figure was granted administrative bail but remained in custody pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions at the time.
Oyewale stated that Otse was invited for questioning multiple times through known addresses and communication channels but failed to honour the invitations, prompting the commission to secure a lawful remand order for his arrest.
“The EFCC has a lawful right to hold Otse in custody like any other suspect being investigated by the Commission. He has been offered an administrative bail and would be released after fulfilling all the bail conditions,” the agency said.
A sizable mob stormed the Guaranty Trust Bank headquarters in Abuja on Monday in response to his arrest, which provoked widespread protests.
Chanting “#FreeVDM” and holding placards with messages like “Activism is not a sin” and “VDM is the masses’ liberator,” demonstrators accused the authorities of targeting Otse for his outspoken criticism of public figures and institutions.
Some protesters also drove through the city in solidarity, amplifying calls for his immediate release.
