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OK27 To Judiciary: Wake Up, VDM Is Replacing You
By Iyojo Ameh
An advocacy group, OK27, has called on Nigeria’s judiciary to strengthen its independence and do more to protect citizens facing unlawful detention and alleged violations of their rights.
The group made the call on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during an Independence Day protest in Abuja, where its leader, Henry Pwajok Lodam, said the judiciary must be free from undue influence and remain accessible to ordinary Nigerians.
Lodam alleged that some Nigerians had spent years in detention without trial, arguing that prolonged incarceration without proper judicial process undermines the rule of law.
“The judiciary in Nigeria is broken,” Lodam said. “We are calling for the judiciary in Nigeria to wake up.”
He said the protest was not solely about politically prominent individuals, but also about ordinary Nigerians held in correctional facilities across the country who, according to him, lack the resources to pursue justice.
Lodam cited cases involving Nnamdi Kanu and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, among others, as examples of matters he said had raised concerns about due process and judicial independence.
He acknowledged that El-Rufai had faced grievances from different sections of society over his tenure as Kaduna governor, but argued that such grievances should not prevent anyone from receiving due process.
“We need the justice system of this country to be cleaned up. Whoever the person is involved, there should be no persecution of persons,” he said.
The OK27 leader also criticised what he described as excessive dependence on individuals outside the formal justice system to secure the release of people facing alleged rights violations.
“VDM is replacing you,” Lodam said, referring to social commentator VeryDarkMan. “He has done a lot for people who are going through a lot, who do not have the resources or the finances to seek for justice.”
According to him, VeryDarkMan had intervened in some cases involving people who allegedly faced unlawful detention, including engagements with law enforcement authorities.
Lodam said October 1 was deliberately chosen for the demonstration because Nigeria’s Independence Day symbolises freedom, arguing that political independence should also be reflected in the ability of citizens to obtain justice and protection under the law.
“We chose the judiciary specifically because it is the last hope of the common man,” he said.
OK27 also denied that the protest was sponsored by Peter Obi or any political party, despite Lodam repeatedly referring to the former Labour Party presidential candidate as his “principal” during the interview.
Lodam maintained that the group organised and financed the demonstration independently, while acknowledging Obi’s publicly expressed concerns about judicial independence and his reported support for the family of El-Rufai.
The protest comes amid continuing public and political debates over judicial independence, prolonged detention and access to justice in Nigeria. Claims made by the protesters concerning specific individuals and court proceedings remain their stated positions and would require verification against court records and responses from the relevant authorities.