A legal heavyweight has raised eyebrows over the Nigerian Bar Association’s decision to feature popular social critic VeryDarkMan at its upcoming conference — and the argument is getting people talking.
Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has openly criticised the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for extending an invitation to social media activist and critic, Martins Vincent Otse — better known across Nigeria as VeryDarkMan (VDM) — to serve as a panelist at an NBA conference.
What Is the Controversy About?
For many Nigerians who follow both the legal space and social media streets closely, this might seem like an unusual clash of two very different worlds. On one side, you have the structured, protocol-driven world of Nigeria’s legal professionals. On the other, you have VDM — a no-nonsense, tell-it-as-it-is content creator who has built a massive following by speaking truth to power and holding institutions accountable in ways that resonate deeply with everyday Nigerians.
Falana, a veteran human rights lawyer and one of Nigeria’s most respected legal minds, took issue with the NBA’s decision to platform VDM at what is considered one of the association’s most prestigious gatherings.
Why This Conversation Matters to Nigerians
Whether you are team Falana or team VDM, this debate touches on something bigger — the question of who gets a seat at the table when important national conversations are being had.
Many Nigerians argue that the struggles VDM speaks about daily — police brutality, institutional corruption, social injustice, and the suffering of ordinary citizens — are the same issues that lawyers and policymakers are supposed to address. So why should his voice be considered out of place?
On the flip side, others believe that professional conferences should maintain certain standards regarding the qualifications and background of those invited to speak on serious legal and governance matters.
The VDM Phenomenon
If you have been on Nigerian social media in recent times, you already know that VeryDarkMan is not your average influencer. He has become a symbol of grassroots activism in the digital age — using his platform to challenge powerful individuals and institutions, including banks, celebrities, and even government officials.
His growing influence is precisely why the NBA’s invitation makes sense to many people. Civil society, activism, and the law are not mutually exclusive — and conferences that bring diverse voices together often produce richer, more impactful conversations.
The Bigger Picture
Femi Falana’s criticism raises valid questions about the boundaries of professional discourse, but it also opens up a broader national conversation: In a country like Nigeria, where the gap between the elite and the common man remains wide, should professional bodies not actively seek out voices that represent the experiences of ordinary Nigerians?
As this debate continues to unfold, one thing is clear — whether he steps on that stage or not, VeryDarkMan has already done what he does best: sparked a conversation that Nigeria cannot ignore.
What do you think? Should VDM have been invited to speak at the NBA conference? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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