The arrest of social media commentator VeryDarkMan (VDM) has sparked a wave of public outcry, and now, Deji Adeyanju, VDM’s lawyer, has added fuel to the fire by calling out prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana for his silence on the matter.
VDM, who was detained by security operatives in Abuja, has had his arrest linked to various speculations online, including an unconfirmed connection to gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. Despite the controversy, Adeyanju has voiced his frustration over Falana’s lack of response, especially given the outspoken lawyer’s history of defending individuals targeted by the state.
In a Facebook post, Adeyanju reminded his followers of an incident during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, where Falana swiftly came to the aid of a young man who had previously been involved in an attack against Adeyanju himself.
Adeyanju’s remarks suggest that Falana’s silence now, when VDM’s rights appear to be violated, has raised questions about his commitment to human rights activism. This ongoing drama has sparked debates online, as the public waits to see whether Falana will address the issue.
He wrote:
“Our revered leader and mentor, Femi Falana SAN yet to condemn the arrest of VDM. Interesting times indeed! When the boy that lead people to attack me under Buhari became a victim under the same Buhari and was arrested, I was the first person to condemn it”.