Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has dismissed allegations made by controversial social media influencer Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, labeling them as “infantile radicalism.”
The claims arose after Otse shared a voice note in which crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, alleged that Falana had sought a presidential pardon for him in exchange for ₦10 million.
Bobrisky, in the voice note, also claimed to have bribed officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with ₦15 million to drop money laundering charges against him. However, Falana categorically denied the claims during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, calling them false and demanding an apology from Otse.
“Some of our young people are not prepared to look at the provisions of the law with respect to defamation. They simply go out there to embarrass people,” Falana said. “In this case, we are not going to file a criminal complaint. We will not be pushed to do that. What I am going to do is embark on civil proceedings with a view to restoring our integrity.”
Falana also emphasized that the legal action would be taken to protect both his and his son’s reputations. “We have asked for a retraction and an apology. If we don’t have a retraction and apology acceptable to us, we are certainly going to initiate civil proceedings in the High Court.”
He further clarified that he has never met or spoken with Bobrisky, stating, “Bobrisky never spoke to me, I have never met him, I do not know him from Adam. He was alleged to have spoken to my son Folarin (Falz).”
Falana explained that his son had been contacted by Bobrisky on May 4, 2024, with a request for ₦3 million to be placed in the VIP section of the prison. “My son asked him, ‘Are you calling me under the authorization of the superintendent of prisons?’ He said no. My son then told him not to call again.”
Falana warned that if the requested apology is not forthcoming, he will proceed with legal action to address the defamation.
