Very Darkman, EFCC: Falanas demand public apology from Bobrisky
Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin Falana, a prominent musician and activist popularly known as Falus, have jointly called for a public apology and retraction for the defamatory statements made by cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky. .
In a recent statement, the Falana duo expressed concern over the impact of Bobrisky’s statements, which they say have unfairly damaged their reputations.
The call for a public apology and retraction is in response to the online circulation of audio recordings in which Bobrisky made several unverified claims about the Falana family.
These recordings have raised serious doubts about the accuracy and intent of the statements, leading the Falana family to take a stance.
They argue that the unfounded allegations not only damage their personal and professional reputations, but also contribute to a disinformation culture that could have far-reaching repercussions. The Falanas not only want to resolve this issue among themselves, but also want to uphold the principle of truthfulness in public debates.
The controversy started when controversial social media pundit Martin Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, claimed in an audio clip shared by him that Bobrisky had contacted Falz to persuade his father, Femi Falana, to cooperate in obtaining a presidential pardon. According to Bobrisky, the favour cost him 10 million naira. He further claimed that she or he had asked Falz for 3 million naira to ensure preferential treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
In a second audio clip also shared by VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky claimed that he had advanced 5 million naira to a Senior Advocate General of Nigeria (SAN) to obtain a pardon from the Federal Government in relation to charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow the charges against him. In response to these allegations, Falana’s legal team, represented by Messrs. Olorunfemi Akinyemi and Taiwo E. Olawanle, wrote a strongly worded letter on October 14, 2024. The letter categorically rejected Bobrisky’s allegations, describing them as baseless and damaging to the reputation of Femi Falana and his son, Farus.
The legal representatives called for a full public retraction of the defamatory statements and for a formal apology to be posted on all platforms where the audio was distributed. The letter stressed that failure to comply could lead to further legal action.
