Lawyers Clash Over VDM's Panel Role

The invitation of social commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, as a panelist at the ongoing 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday has sparked a debate among lawyers and other commentators. While some lawyers described Otse as a “gross misfit” for an NBA conference, others defended his participation, arguing that his experience and public advocacy on insecurity gave him a relevant perspective on the subject. Otse’s participation came during a panel on “Known Gunmen or Unknown Gunmen”, where he shared his experiences covering insecurity and visiting communities affected by killings and attacks. He alleged that the government and security agencies benefited financially from insecurity while citizens remained “sacrificial lambs”. He also alleged that cattle were being used to launder money and accused some security personnel of facilitating criminal activities.