By Opeyemi Adelakun
Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has criticised Nigeria’s legal profession, arguing that many lawyers are struggling to secure employment or practise despite the profession’s long-standing reputation.
VeryDarkMan made the remarks while responding to criticism over his participation in the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.
The activist was invited to speak on a panel focusing on insecurity, where he shared his experiences and views on the security challenges confronting Nigerians.
His appearance at the conference, however, attracted criticism from some members of the legal profession, who questioned why a social media activist without formal legal training was invited to participate in the event.
Reacting in a video shared on social media on Friday, VeryDarkMan said his participation was aimed at representing Nigerians who he believed lacked the opportunity to make their voices heard.
“I spoke on behalf of the poor people. I spoke on behalf of the people that don’t have a voice,” he said.
He also questioned the objection to his presence at an event dominated by lawyers.
“Because a son of nobody was seen in your midst,” he said.
Turning his attention to the legal profession, VeryDarkMan rejected the argument that law should automatically be regarded as a noble profession.
“This bunch of clowns are telling me that law is a noble profession,” he said.
“Well, lately, law has not been a noble profession. I’m sorry to say. I’m not even sorry to say. It is what it is.”
The activist argued that a significant number of lawyers in Nigeria either do not practise or struggle financially.
He questioned the availability of employment opportunities for lawyers and the number of qualified practitioners who regularly appear in court.
“How many lawyers are there? How many lawyers have jobs? How many lawyers actually go to court? Ask yourself that,” he said.
VeryDarkMan also criticised what he described as the continued production of new law graduates despite limited opportunities within the profession.
“And every year, they say they have people graduating from law school. Four thousand have graduated from law school, only to end up selling bedsheets,” he added.
His comments followed the controversy surrounding his invitation to the NBA conference, where his participation in the insecurity panel generated debate among lawyers and members of the public.
The disagreement has largely centred on whether professional conferences should feature individuals based primarily on their professional qualifications or whether people with direct experience and public engagement should also be invited to contribute to discussions on issues affecting society.
VeryDarkMan has maintained that his contribution was based on his experiences and engagement with Nigerians, rather than formal legal training.
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