The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has come under sharp criticism following the appearance of controversial social media activist VeryDarkMan (real name Martins Vincent Otse) as a panellist at its 66th Annual General Conference holding in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
VDM featured on a panel session on Tuesday, where he spoke on insecurity and the experiences of victims of violent attacks across the country. His participation, however, triggered widespread outrage on social media, with many Nigerians questioning why a controversial online commentator without legal training was given a platform at a gathering of lawyers.
Several social media users criticized the NBA for what they described as a drop in professional standards, with some drawing comparisons to an earlier controversy involving content creator Portable's association with the association. Others wondered aloud whether livestreamer Peller could be the next unconventional figure to be invited to such professional gatherings.
Responding to the criticism during the conference, VDM defended his invitation, stating that he was not there to lecture lawyers on legal matters but to share his personal experiences from covering scenes of violence and insecurity across Nigeria. He said his critics may not have fully grasped the focus of the session, titled "Unknown Known Gunmen," explaining that insecurity is no longer an issue limited to courtroom debates since members of the legal profession, including judges, have also fallen victim to attacks and kidnappings.
He referenced the abduction of a judge in Kebbi State in July, who was reportedly held captive for about a week while travelling from Sokoto, as an example of how insecurity has affected the judiciary directly. VDM also criticized the media for what he called inadequate coverage of attacks blamed on "unknown gunmen" and their aftermath.
Speaking further on his personal exposure to insecurity, VDM disclosed that he was among the first responders at the scene of the Yelwata attack and at another incident where women were killed. He also spoke about witnessing the aftermath of a Sallah Day bombing in Borno State and incidents linked to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
During the session, VDM also called on the Federal Government to make it easier for citizens to legally acquire firearms for self-protection, arguing that the number of police and military personnel is grossly insufficient for Nigeria's population of over 200 million people.
His remarks did not go unchallenged. Military representatives at the conference reportedly confronted him over claims he made suggesting corruption within the armed forces, demanding that he provide evidence to back up his allegations rather than making broad, unsubstantiated claims.
The NBA conference, which runs from August 21 to 28, has continued to draw lawyers, security stakeholders and other prominent Nigerians for discussions on the state of the country's legal system and broader national issues, with VDM's appearance emerging as one of the most talked-about moments of the event so far.
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