VDM Takes NBA Conference by Storm as Lawyers Debate His Invitation and Security Message

VeryDarkMan, popularly known as VDM, has become one of the biggest talking points at the ongoing 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt.

The social commentator appeared as a panelist on Tuesday during a plenary session titled “Known Gun Men,” which focused on Nigeria's security challenges and the legal and institutional issues surrounding insecurity.

His appearance came after days of debate online over why the NBA had invited him to participate in a conference attended by lawyers, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, judges and other prominent figures.

Rather than avoid the controversy, VDM addressed it directly during his appearance.

“I am not here to teach you people law. I am here to share experience.”

According to reports from the conference, VDM argued that his contribution was based on what he described as firsthand experiences with victims and communities affected by violence.

Why VDM said he belonged on the panel

VDM told the gathering that the subject being discussed was not simply a legal issue that could be confined to courtroom language.

He pointed to the increasing exposure of members of the legal profession to insecurity, including the reported abduction of a High Court judge in Kebbi State.

His argument was that lawyers and judges are themselves increasingly affected by the security situation they are expected to address through the justice system.

“This is not a topic of ‘may I, my lord’ because your lords are being kidnapped,” VDM said.

He also criticised what he described as inadequate coverage of violent attacks and their aftermath by sections of Nigeria's conventional media.

VDM said his decision to visit affected communities had allowed him to see the consequences of insecurity beyond what is normally captured in official statements or news reports.

He referenced his visits to locations affected by violence, including Yelwata in Benue State, Plateau State and parts of Borno State, as examples of experiences that shaped his perspective.

VDM's comments on Yelwata

During the discussion, VDM also offered his own account of the violence in Yelwata.

He alleged that the attack was carried out by Fulani attackers as retaliation following the killing of a Fulani boy and his cow.

That claim was presented as VDM's account and should not be treated as an established finding about the attack.

The Yelwata violence has previously been the subject of criminal investigations and court proceedings, making careful distinction between allegations, testimony and established facts particularly important.

The invitation sparked a heated debate on X

Before VDM even took the stage, his invitation had already generated substantial discussion among lawyers and other Nigerians on X.

Some reactions were sharply critical.

One user, Foza Billions, questioned whether lawyers paying NBA dues should have VDM as a conference speaker.

Another user, Dearest B, described the development as embarrassing and compared it with the NBA's previous engagement with controversial entertainer Portable.

Other critics questioned whether internet popularity and social-media influence should qualify someone to speak at one of the country's largest gatherings of legal professionals.

There were also complaints about the financial sacrifices delegates make to attend the Annual General Conference, with some users questioning whether they should encounter a social-media personality as a featured panelist after paying registration, accommodation and travel expenses.

But VDM also has defenders

The reaction on social media was far from unanimous.

Some users questioned why VDM's inclusion should be considered controversial in the first place.

Supporters argued that the NBA's discussion was about insecurity and that VDM's experiences interacting with victims and visiting affected communities could provide a perspective different from that of lawyers, security officials and policymakers.

One of the arguments emerging from the debate was that professional qualifications and lived experience do not necessarily have to be mutually exclusive when discussing a national crisis.

The debate therefore became less about VDM alone and more about the type of voices professional institutions should invite when discussing issues affecting the wider public.

The Nigeria Lawyer reported that reactions on X included both strong criticism and support for the decision, with some users defending VDM's ability to speak about issues affecting ordinary Nigerians.

VDM's response: “I am here to share experience”

VDM appeared determined to use his appearance to answer those who had questioned his invitation.

Rather than attempting to present himself as a legal expert, he repeatedly emphasised that his role was to bring his experiences to the conversation.

His position was essentially that insecurity is not an issue belonging exclusively to lawyers, police officers or government officials.

It affects victims, families, communities—and increasingly the very institutions responsible for administering justice.

That argument appeared to resonate with some attendees and supporters, while critics remained unconvinced that the NBA should have selected him for such a prominent platform.

Why the controversy matters

The debate surrounding VDM's NBA appearance raises a broader question about how Nigerian institutions engage with influential voices outside traditional professional structures.

VDM has built a huge following through his confrontational approach to issues involving alleged wrongdoing, public accountability and social problems.

His methods have attracted both strong support and equally strong criticism.

But his ability to command public attention is difficult to ignore.

By inviting him to speak alongside lawyers and security stakeholders, the NBA effectively brought a major social-media voice into a formal conversation about insecurity.

Whether that was a good decision remains a matter of opinion.

The bigger issue is Nigeria's insecurity

Behind the controversy over VDM's invitation lies the much more serious subject that brought the panel together.

Kidnapping, terrorism, communal violence and attacks on communities continue to raise questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria's security and justice institutions.

The reported kidnapping of judges and other members of the legal profession has also highlighted how insecurity can directly affect the administration of justice.

For VDM, this is precisely why he believes his experiences belong in the conversation.

For his critics, however, the NBA must be careful about maintaining professional standards when selecting speakers for major conferences.

Both positions are now part of the public debate.

A conference appearance that became a national conversation

VDM's appearance at the NBA conference has clearly gone beyond the panel room.

It has generated a wider conversation about professional institutions, social-media influence, lived experience and who gets to participate in discussions about Nigeria's most difficult problems.

Whether Nigerians agree with VDM's methods or not, his appearance demonstrates the growing influence of social-media personalities in national conversations that were once dominated almost entirely by politicians, lawyers, academics and government officials.

The real test, however, is not simply whether VDM was invited.

It is whether the discussions generated at the conference can contribute to practical solutions to Nigeria's insecurity crisis.

For now, one thing is certain: VDM walked into a room filled with lawyers, judges and legal professionals - and walked out with Nigerians debating not only what he said, but why he was given the platform in the first place.

Sources

• VeryDarkMan's remarks at the NBA conference, as reported by Vanguard and P.M. News.

• TheNigeriaLawyer — reporting reactions from lawyers and other users on X concerning VDM's invitation.

• X posts from users including Foza Billions and Dearest B, reflecting criticism of VDM's inclusion.