Social media has been abuzz following the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in late August 2026, after social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, spoke during a panel session on insecurity.
During the session, VeryDarkMan alleged that some security personnel were involved in aiding kidnapping activities and raised concerns about the growing risk of abduction, noting that even judges were no longer immune from such threats.
His invitation to speak at the conference, however, attracted criticism from some members of the legal community. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana questioned the decision to invite a non-lawyer to the event instead of relying solely on legal experts.
VeryDarkMan responded to the criticism in a series of videos, where he mocked the backlash by appearing dressed as a lawyer.
The controversy has since generated a wider conversation about public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system, particularly concerns over delays, high legal costs and distrust in both the courts and the police.
Amid the debate, lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi reacted to VeryDarkMan’s invitation, arguing that his popularity reflects deeper frustrations within Nigerian society.
Farotimi said, “a society that has a functional police system and court will not tolerate the presence of VeryDarkMan. VDM is merely the image in your mirror. The society you have built requires VDM to fight for justice; it is easier to fight for justice through him than through the courts. They say the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. Apparently, I disagree. VeryDarkMan is now the last hope of the common man in Nigeria.”
Click the link to watch the video.
Here are some of the reactions:
CHUKS (@ChuksEricE): “A society that has a functional police system and court will not tolerate the presence of VeryDarkMan. VDM is merely the image in your mirror. The society you have built requires VDM to fight for justice; it is easier to fight for justice through him than through the courts.
G-Godwin (@GGodwintu): Same thing I have been saying.. If Nigerian so much despised hero kind of system where vdm champion justice for people. Let come together and fix our country.. Else. Vdm is a big necessity in out reality of today society in Nigeria
Organised Thoughts (@naija…): This guy is a whole nuisance. At his age not a single achievement attached to his name. But he’s chief in bad mounting everything. He’s a lawyer, I’m yet to hear he won a single case. Nigeria sha! No difference btwn him & VDM. VDM is even more useful.
Abraham irowode (@irowode): 100%, VDM exists as a failed system. Nature abhors a vacuum.
J.T Nọsike (@Nosiike_): Hate vdm or not he is right, that TMT guy from owetri defrauded many people they’ve been crying out gone to police several times but he proved untouchable, but vdm got him locked up to answer for his crimes something the police and courts couldn’t do for more that 2 years.
OBIMOVEMENT1439A (@Po…): I don’t think VDM fan will like this one. The judicial system has collapsed completely. He is now our last hope because you can’t win in a court
stop corruption (@stopcorrupt…): Dele Farotimi is a realist with views that differ from most Nigerians’ ideas on national consciousness and governance. I agree with his perspective on VDM; VDM has become a Messiah for the poor because the Nigerian system has failed.
One against corruption is a win for Nigerians.
SWEETWINE🍷🍷✂️✂️… (@…): The major reason I like uncle dele, is this. He says it the way it is
Oyinlola Adelanke (@oadelan…): Very painful. Nigeria judiciary, police is corrupt more than Nigeria as a nation. Who will save this nation
EJ FCB💙🧡⚽ (@JrKeresifon): I hope people who VDM now understand why VDM is really important in this society
MICHAEL KRUSU (@MALIA…): ABSOLUTELY ON POINT
ITS SUCH A PITY WHERE THIS COUNTRY IS AT BCOS OF BAD AND WICKED LEADERS
T.E.R.R.A (@hombreinteligen): So true, vdm and I will put him under the same category as Andrew tate are just reactionary elements to the dysfunctional state of affairs in the society as large, there won’t be any vdm or Tate if the society is ok and functional.
They will literally have no place.
Veriffyd Voice (@VeriffydVoice): E dey pain this man say VDM dey do the work wey his children no dey do
Wivina (@Wiviiina): He’s not lying na!
Even VDM agrees to this
Nd (@Mimi_Drift): You also need to talk about this too
Oracle (@iamphoenixmyth): Every case vdm treats if D right Authority do there jobs ppl won’t look up to him to get justcie, but in a place where everything is bent on silencing your truth or pain then ppl turn to where hope can b found, am sure vdm inbox is filled with request to get justice What a SHAME
Dr. (@DrAkuamaka): “A society that has a functional police system and court will not tolerate the presence of VeryDarkMan. VDM is merely the image in your mirror.”
This is 100% true. In a country where the police work and the courts give justice, nobody will be running to an activist on Instagram to fight for them.
The reason VDM is now called the last hope of the common man is because the common man has lost hope in the system. People find it easier to get justice through VDM than through the institutions that are supposed to protect them.
VDM is not the problem. He is just the mirror showing us how broken our system is. Fix the system, and you won’t need VDM.
Daniel Regha (@DanielRe…): VDM isn’t a graduate, so he definitely has no idea what it takes in terms of experience to become one, talk more of the journey of being a practising lawyer in Nigeria. He actually has no right whatsoever to ridicule the legal profession as a whole, but then again clovt is the goal here. The NBA is to be blamed for this nansense if it was not pre-planned, because for real, why was he there to begin with.
And the audacity to disrespect lawyers when a lawyer (Deji) has saved you time and again.
In every field, even in the ring light department, there are good and incompetent persons, if you don’t know this then that’s a you problem.
You can not correct the system by belittling the profession, when the profession is what makes the system good or bad. And again, many Nigerians don’t even bother to think thru. You agree with a statement disrespecting lawyers for content then expect the same people to jump in and defend the masses during protests, elections, or come to your aid during a legal battle. Are you even serious? Goodness gracious.