VDM mocks NBA backlash by dressing as lawyer in new video

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Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has mocked the controversy surrounding his invitation to the Nigerian Bar Association conference by appearing in a lawyer’s wig and gown in a satirical video.

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Otse shared the video on Instagram on Friday, dressed in the traditional black barrister’s gown, white neck tabs and a wig, while wearing dark sunglasses.

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The roughly three-and-a-half-minute video appeared to be a parody of legal proceedings, with Otse referring to himself as a lawyer and making sarcastic remarks about his recent appearance at the NBA conference.

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The activist had attended the conference, themed “Be Your Limit,” where his participation generated controversy among lawyers and other Nigerians, with some questioning why he was invited to an event organised for legal professionals despite not being a lawyer.

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Otse, however, defended his invitation, arguing that his experience and advocacy on insecurity qualified him to participate in the discussion.

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In the latest video, he said, “If I may, my lords, since you people decided to ignore all the points I raised at the NBA, all the points I raised about the insecurity, the people benefiting, you people decided to distract yourself by judging me and saying I was not fit to be there because I’m not a lawyer.”

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He added, “I’ve been called to bar. So now, you are now my learned colleagues.”

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Otse then sarcastically cited what he called “section 343 of the VDM constitution,” saying, “he who price must pay. And if you play, you go and learn.”

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The activist also mocked the criticism he received over his appearance at the conference.

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“A large majority of Nigerians believe that I was not supposed to be present at this year’s NBA conference titled Be Your Limit. But my lord, I beg to differ because I am the most qualified, especially because of the topic that was addressed,” he said.

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He then jokingly referred to the conference topic as “Non-gun man”, apparently alluding to his previous comments about insecurity and firearms.

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The video also featured two other men whom Otse introduced as his “learned friends”, while continuing with the mock courtroom act.

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At one point, he pretended to represent a man who claimed to have been wrongly profiled, only to reject the request for legal representation.

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“My lord, I am here to say I will not be representing this madman in court because how can you be looking like this? And you come and meet a noble man like me to represent you,” he said.

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The latest post comes amid an ongoing dispute over Otse’s participation in the NBA conference.

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Senior lawyer Femi Falana had previously rejected the justification for Otse’s invitation, arguing that experience could not substitute for the professional qualifications required to participate as a speaker at the conference.

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Otse subsequently maintained that his invitation was based on his experience and challenged the criticism of his participation.

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The controversy also followed his claims concerning insecurity and alleged kidnapping activities involving police officers, for which the police invited him for questioning.

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Rather than directly addressing the criticism in his latest video, Otse used the lawyer costume and mock courtroom setting to satirise the dispute, repeatedly addressing himself and others as “my lord” and “learned colleagues.”

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