Human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi has sparked fresh debate over the growing influence of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), in Nigeria’s fight for justice and accountability.
Farotimi made the remarks while reacting to the controversy surrounding VDM’s invitation to the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In a video shared on YouTube, Farotimi described VDM’s growing popularity as a reflection of the increasing frustration among ordinary Nigerians with the country’s justice system.
According to him, VDM has effectively emerged as an alternative avenue through which many Nigerians seek redress when they feel ignored or failed by formal institutions.
Farotimi said the development was an indication that the judiciary had lost some of its traditional position as the institution Nigerians look up to when seeking justice.
He argued that VDM’s ability to attract public attention to alleged cases of injustice, disputes and complaints had contributed to his growing influence among Nigerians.
The controversy over VDM’s appearance at the NBA conference generated mixed reactions, with some lawyers and members of the public questioning why a social media activist was invited to speak at a major gathering of legal professionals.
However, VDM defended his participation, explaining that he was invited to share his experiences on insecurity and issues affecting Nigerians, rather than to teach lawyers about the law.
He participated in a plenary session titled “Known Gun Men”, which focused on insecurity and the legal and institutional challenges surrounding the crisis.
The session also featured Farotimi and other legal and security figures, including senior representatives of Nigeria’s security agencies.
VDM’s growing prominence has continued to generate debate about the changing relationship between social media activism, traditional institutions and public accountability in Nigeria.
Farotimi’s comments have therefore added another dimension to the controversy, raising questions about why many Nigerians increasingly turn to social media personalities when seeking attention for grievances that they believe have not received adequate institutional response.
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