A media intelligence report released by Lagos-based independent consultancy, P+ Measurement Services, has revealed significant reputational pressure on Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) following a public online altercation involving social media influencer VeryDarkMan (real name: Martins Otse). The data-driven analysis of media coverage between May 1 and May 7, 2025, indicates an acute surge in negative sentiment, widespread audience exposure, and sharp international media attention.
The weeklong monitoring exercise, tagged #GTBMediaPulse, assessed both traditional and digital media using advanced tracking methodologies. The report reveals that GTBank recorded a staggering 65% negative sentiment, compared to 25% neutral and just 10% positive mentions across media platforms. The shift in tone is attributed to the explosive virality of allegations by Otse, which included accusations of account restrictions, poor customer service, and broader institutional misconduct.
The media types driving this sentiment were predominantly online platforms (70%), supported by digital media (20%) and traditional print newspapers (10%). This distribution underlines how social media platforms and digital-native publications played a dominant role in shaping public opinion during the crisis period. Online discussions were not only widespread but highly engaging, suggesting deeper traction among digital-first demographics.
In terms of geographical media share, Nigeria unsurprisingly led the conversation, followed by considerable pickup in the United Kingdom, Ghana, South Africa, and the United States. This points to a diaspora-driven echo effect and the growing interest of international financial watchers in the operations and customer-facing behavior of major African financial institutions.
The controversy generated high search activity and content mentions around specific themes. The most prominent search keywords and hashtags included “GTBank vs VDM”, “GTB account freeze issue”, “Why is GTBank trending”, and calls to action like #BoycottGTBank and #EndGTB. These keywords were amplified by online advocacy, YouTube commentary, and Twitter discourse, pushing GTBank to trending status multiple times during the tracking period.
Perhaps most notably, the estimated audience reach for content mentioning the GTBank controversy reached 86,833,533 views. This level of exposure places the event among the most high-impact reputation incidents in Nigeria’s recent banking history. While virality does not inherently translate into permanent brand damage, the sharp spike in negative sentiment could have lingering effects if not proactively managed.
Despite the volume of online criticism, P+ Measurement Services emphasizes that this report does not verify the authenticity or legal validity of the claims made by VDM. Rather, it provides an objective view into how media ecosystems have engaged with and responded to the issue. The consultancy has advised brands to use such intelligence not only to respond to crises but to enhance risk mitigation strategies and customer experience models.
GTBank, which has long positioned itself as a tech-forward, customer-centric bank, faces a crucial inflection point. The data suggests that while the bank retains neutral sentiment across a quarter of the total media share, the overwhelming negativity warrants urgent public relations recalibration. Continued silence or insufficient messaging may allow public perception to solidify against the brand.
As of press time, GTBank has not released an official comprehensive statement addressing the allegations, beyond isolated responses through customer service channels. Financial analysts and brand consultants will be watching closely to see whether this media storm translates into measurable impact on GTBank’s market confidence, customer retention, or investor relations.
This report was independently conducted by P+ Measurement Services, a Nigerian-based independent media intelligence consultancy, renowned for data-led PR measurement and performance audits.
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