VDM, Lawyer Marshall Abubakar Face Scrutiny as Court Grants BLord Bail
A fresh wave of public debate has emerged following the court-ordered release of businessman Linus Williams Ifejirika, popularly known as BLord, who was granted bail after spending over two weeks at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The case—initiated by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM)—has continued to generate controversy, particularly regarding the role of VDM and his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, in the legal proceedings.
BLord was remanded on April 1, 2026, after being arraigned on charges including criminal conspiracy, impersonation, and the alleged unauthorised use of VDM’s identity, according to multiple reports. The Federal High Court in Abuja later granted him bail on liberal terms, including the surrender of his international passport.
Reporter Questions Lawyer’s Human Rights Credentials
Following the bail hearing, Abubakar was confronted by a reporter who asked:
“Does this in any way affect your reputation as a human rights lawyer? In fact, some said you went against the tenets of what you stand for… putting him in detention.”
The question reflects growing public sentiment online, where critics have accused VDM and his legal team of contradicting their long-standing advocacy for free speech and civil liberties.
Abubakar Responds
“That allegation is quite very laughable.”
In response, Abubakar dismissed the criticism, stating:
“That allegation is quite very laughable. Now, I would say even those who question that cannot in good faith say that I have gone against what we stand for as far as our human rights, defense and activism is concerned in this country.”
He emphasized that neither he nor VDM had attempted to suppress free expression:
“Our position has always been clear that on no account should free speech and freedom of expression be criminalized in this country. And as far as these charges in court today are concerned, there is nowhere where we attempted to stifle the right of any Nigerian including BLord to freedom of expression and freedom to speak his mind.”
Abubakar further clarified that the matter goes beyond social media exchanges:
“The matter is not as pertains to the right of BLord and VDM to engage in social media banters. We do not and we will never accept a situation where Nigerians will be stopped through the instruments of law or will be punished through the instruments of law for speaking out his mind. What we are litigating in court today is beyond social media banter.”
Fraud Allegations at the Center of the Case
The lawyer maintained that the charges are strictly criminal in nature, stating that BLord was brought before the court over:
“impersonation, the issue of cheating, the issue of advance fee fraud and other issues of cyber-squatting.”
Public Backlash and Sowore’s Intervention
The case has drawn strong reactions from civil society figures, including activist Omoyele Sowore, who earlier described the situation as oppressive and reflective of a broader pattern of using state institutions to silence critics.
Meanwhile, VDM escalated tensions by launching online attacks against Sowore, further deepening the polarization surrounding the case.
Bail Granted, Tensions Continue
BLord’s bail—granted on self-recognition with the condition of passport surrender—has not brought an end to the controversy. Discussions continue across social and civic spaces, with many questioning the balance between legal accountability and freedom of expression.
Efforts are reportedly underway to de-escalate the situation, with Sowore said to be involved in moves aimed at reconciliation.
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