Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has criticised Nigeria’s legal profession, arguing that law can no longer be regarded as a noble profession in the country.
VeryDarkMan made the remarks while responding to criticism over his invitation to the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, where he participated in a panel discussion on insecurity.
His appearance at the conference generated controversy among some members of the legal profession, with critics questioning why the activist was invited to speak at an event primarily attended by lawyers.
Responding to the criticism in a video shared on social media, VeryDarkMan said he attended the conference to speak about the experiences of ordinary Nigerians, particularly people he described as having little or no platform to make their voices heard.
He questioned why his presence among lawyers had generated such reactions, suggesting that some critics were uncomfortable because someone outside the legal profession had been given an opportunity to address the gathering.
VeryDarkMan subsequently turned his attention to the legal profession, rejecting the description of law as a noble profession.
He argued that many Nigerian lawyers struggle to find employment or practise regularly, describing law as one of the country's least financially rewarding professions.
The activist also questioned the number of lawyers graduating each year compared with the opportunities available to them within the profession.
He claimed that thousands of people graduate from law school annually but may eventually pursue other forms of employment because of limited opportunities to practise law.
His comments come amid a wider debate over his invitation to the NBA conference. Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, had criticised the decision, arguing that specialised discussions on national security should feature people with relevant professional experience or direct involvement in the subject.
VeryDarkMan has defended his participation, maintaining that his experiences and public advocacy gave him a perspective that could contribute to discussions about insecurity.
The controversy has therefore extended beyond his personal invitation to broader questions about the role of public commentators, activists and non-lawyers in professional conferences.
The activist's latest comments have also reignited discussions about the challenges facing young lawyers in Nigeria, including employment opportunities, access to legal practice and the cost of professional training.
However, VeryDarkMan's assessment of the legal profession represents his personal opinion and should not be treated as an established assessment of the profession as a whole.
Nigeria's legal profession remains one of the country's regulated professional sectors, with thousands of practitioners working across private practice, government, corporate organisations, academia and other areas.
The debate surrounding VeryDarkMan's NBA appearance is expected to continue as reactions emerge from members of the legal profession and the wider public.
For now, his comments have added another dimension to the controversy surrounding his participation at the NBA's annual conference.
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