VDM declares war on Femi Falana over his invitation to NBA conference

Social media critic and activist, VeryDarkMan (VDM), has come out publicly to express deep disturbance over recent events following his invitation and appearance at an NBA (Nigerian Bar Association) conference held in Port Harcourt, where he was met with widespread criticism, particularly from senior lawyer Femi Falana.

According to VDM, the backlash began even before the conference took place, with many questioning why he was invited at all.
He revealed that he has faced a barrage of insults and demeaning comments from members of the public and, notably, from several lawyers on social media platform Twitter. However, he stated that he chose to ignore these attacks, being accustomed to criticism as one of the most talked-about figures in the country.

What changed his stance, he explained, was a public statement made by Femi Falana, which prompted him to record a video response.

Narrating the events leading up to the controversy, VDM said he arrived in Port Harcourt on a Monday, a day ahead of the scheduled NBA conference. Upon stepping out of his hotel with friends, he claimed to have encountered Falana for the first time in person.

Describing the encounter, VDM stated that, “When I saw Femi Falana, I prostrated. Both of my hands were on the ground, my legs, everything. I prostrated, and every other person that followed me bowed their head,” after which they exchanged pleasantries.
Femi Falana enquired of him what he was doing at the hotel, to which he explained that he was invited to share his opinions at the NBA conference.
VDM claimed that the learned human rights activist applauded that, and each man went their separate ways.

VDM said that during the conference itself, he clarified to attendees that he was not there to lecture lawyers on their profession, but rather to share his personal experiences and observations, including data he claimed to have gathered, particularly referencing incidents in Yelwata. He said he also touched on the alleged involvement of certain security operatives and agencies in insecurity across the country.

He alleged that after his address, criticism poured in from many quarters, which he initially dismissed.
However, he said his frustration peaked when Falana, the same man he claimed to have greeted respectfully the day before, later suggested publicly that VDM had been “brought from nowhere” and that other individuals who had “paid their dues” deserved such a platform instead.

Visibly angered by this characterization, VDM questioned what such “dues” entailed, citing his personal financial sacrifices and physical risks taken while reporting from conflict-affected areas, including Borno State during bomb attacks in Monday Market, a post office, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, as well as flooding in Borno.

He further stated, “If I see Femi Falana not move here today, I will never, I will never greet Femi Falana when I see him. If I see him like this, I pass. That respect don go out of the window. Never in my life will I see that man and I will acknowledge him. Never.