Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has criticised the Nigerian legal profession while responding to the backlash over his appearance at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.
VeryDarkMan was invited to take part in a panel discussion on insecurity, where he spoke about security problems and the experiences of ordinary Nigerians. His appearance, however, drew criticism from some members of the legal profession who questioned why he was invited to speak at the conference.
Responding to the criticism in a video shared on social media on Friday, the activist said he attended the conference to speak for people who are often unable to make their voices heard.
He said his presence at the event was not about presenting himself as a legal expert, but about bringing the experiences of ordinary Nigerians to a gathering of lawyers.
VeryDarkMan also questioned why some lawyers were uncomfortable with his invitation, saying he represented a different side of society that is often not heard in professional gatherings.
Turning his attention to the legal profession, he rejected the idea that law should automatically be described as a noble profession in Nigeria.
He argued that many people who study law struggle to find jobs or practise the profession after completing their training.
The activist also questioned the number of lawyers being produced by the Nigerian Law School every year compared with the opportunities available to them.
According to him, many trained lawyers do not end up practising in court, while others are forced to look for work outside the legal profession.
His comments came shortly after human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, criticised the NBA’s decision to invite him to speak on security issues at the conference.
Falana had argued that speakers invited to discuss specialised matters such as national security should have relevant professional experience or direct involvement in the subject. He said the NBA should maintain the intellectual standard associated with its conferences.
VeryDarkMan’s response has now added another dimension to the controversy surrounding his appearance at the NBA conference, turning what began as a disagreement over his invitation into a wider debate about the state of Nigeria’s legal profession.
The activist’s remarks are likely to generate further reactions from lawyers and other professionals, particularly because they came in direct response to criticism from senior members of the legal community.
For now, VeryDarkMan has made it clear that he does not regret attending the conference and believes his experience and interaction with ordinary Nigerians gave him a reason to speak on issues affecting them.