Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) has come under public scrutiny following reports that Nigerian social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, was arrested after publicly complaining about alleged unauthorized debits from his GTBank account.
According to statements circulating on social media, VeryDarkMan alleged that GTBank made withdrawals from his account without his authorization and failed to address his concerns after multiple complaints. His posts, which went viral, sparked widespread public reactions and debates on banking transparency and customer rights in Nigeria.
Sources close to the incident claim that GTBank filed a formal complaint alleging defamation, public misinformation, and disruption of its operations. The complaint reportedly led to the arrest of the influencer by law enforcement authorities in Abuja.
In an official response, GTBank stated:
"While we uphold the right of all customers to express dissatisfaction and seek resolution, we strongly denounce the spread of misleading or false information that may cause reputational harm. GTBank operates under strict regulatory guidelines, and all customer transactions are subject to detailed review and accountability."
The bank has emphasized its commitment to resolving all legitimate customer issues and urged the public to use official channels for complaint resolution.
Meanwhile, supporters of VeryDarkMan have criticized the arrest as a suppression of free speech and a dangerous precedent against whistleblowing in Nigeria’s financial sector. Human rights advocates have called for an independent investigation into both the alleged unauthorized debits and the circumstances surrounding his arrest.