There was excitement among young Nigerians as popular social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), was released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
His release was confirmed by his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who spoke with reporters over the phone.
VeryDarkMan had been picked up by EFCC officials in Abuja on Friday over several complaints reportedly lodged by private individuals. The agency later confirmed the arrest, stating that it was based on multiple petitions involving fraudulent activities.
His detention quickly sparked reactions online and offline. Many young people and celebrities spoke out in his defense. Former presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, along with music star Davido, were among those who called for his immediate release.
READ ALSO: EFCC Breaks Silence on Probing VeryDarkMan for Alleged Financial Crimes
On the streets of Abuja, some youths took the protest further by marching peacefully with placards, demanding VDM’s freedom and describing the arrest as unfair.
While the EFCC said it was only following due process, many of VeryDarkMan’s supporters saw the arrest as an attack on freedom of speech.
