Instead of asking, “Why was VeryDarkMan invited to speak at the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference?” perhaps the more important question is: Why shouldn’t he have been?
It is important to clarify that VeryDarkMan was not invited to lecture lawyers on the law or teach them how to practise. He was invited to share his experiences and perspectives on insecurity and victims of violence, an area in which he has been visibly and actively involved - issues that are deeply relevant to the legal profession.
Whatever one may think of his methods, he has engaged directly with victims, raised concerns about insecurity, spoken about the experiences of vulnerable people and, in his own way, attempted to draw public attention to these challenges. That experience is relevant to a conversation about victims of violence and insecurity.
The law is not static, nor is it exclusively about lawyers speaking to lawyers. The legal profession operates within society, and society is constantly changing. Law intersects with politics, technology, social media, human rights, accountability, public policy, access to justice and, most importantly, the everyday experiences of ordinary citizens.
VeryDarkMan represents a particular dimension of contemporary Nigerian society: the growing influence of social media activism, citizen advocacy, public accountability and the ability of individuals outside traditional institutions to shape public discourse.
Inviting him does not necessarily amount to endorsing every position he has taken. Neither does it mean that the Nigerian Bar Association agrees with everything he says or does.
A professional conference should not simply be an echo chamber where only people who think alike are given a voice. There is value in engaging with difficult, unconventional and even uncomfortable perspectives, particularly when those perspectives come from people who have had direct experiences relevant to the subject under discussion.
If lawyers must understanding the society in which they practise, they cannot afford to engage only with themselves. They must understand the voices, movements and platforms influencing public opinion, as well as the experiences of citizens beyond the courtroom and conference room.
So, the analytical question is not simply, “Why VDM?”
It is: What does the legal profession stand to learn by engaging with someone who has become influential outside the traditional structures of law and formal institutions, particularly on issues affecting victims of violence and insecurity?
That said, there is one aspect of his appearance that I would fault: his dressing.
There is a difference between inviting someone because of their experience and giving them a pass on the standards expected in a particular professional environment.
As the saying goes, “When in Rome, behave like the Romans.” The Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference is a formal professional gathering. Once invited into that setting, he ought to have understood the nature of the occasion and dressed accordingly.
His contribution may have been relevant. His experience may have been valuable. His invitation may have been justified.
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But the setting also demanded a certain level of decorum, and his dressing could—and should—have reflected that.
Ultimately, the question should not be whether someone is a lawyer before they are allowed to contribute to a conversation about issues that affect society. The more important question is whether they have a relevant perspective that can enrich the conversation.
The law is all-encompassing. Its relevance is ultimately measured by its relationship with society, and society does not exist exclusively within the legal profession.
Esther Oyeyemi Esq.
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