Falana’s family demands public apology from Bobrisky over VeryDarkMan, EFCC remarks

Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, the popular musician and activist Folarin Falana, widely known as Falz, have jointly called for a public apology and a retraction of the defamatory statements made by crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky. This call comes in light of recent comments made by Bobrisky that have sparked considerable controversy and backlash, prompting the Falana family to take a firm stance against the allegations.

In a recent statement, the Falana duo expressed their concern over the impact of Bobrisky’s remarks, which they believe have unjustly tarnished their reputations. They highlighted the importance of maintaining integrity and accountability in public discourse, especially in light of the damaging effects that false statements can have on individuals and their families.

The demands for a public apology and retraction come in response to the circulation of audio recordings online, in which Bobrisky made several unverified claims about the Falanas. These recordings have raised significant concerns regarding the accuracy and intent behind the statements, prompting the Falana family to take a stand in defense of their character and professional integrity.

They argue that the unfounded allegations not only damage their personal and professional reputations but also contribute to a culture of misinformation that can have far-reaching consequences. The Falanas are seeking to address this issue not just for themselves, but to uphold the principle of truthfulness in public discourse and to ensure that such misinformation does not go unchecked.

The controversy began when Bobrisky, in an audio clip shared by controversial social media critic Martin Otse, alias VeryDarkMan, alleged that he or she contacted Falz to solicit his help in persuading his father, Femi Falana, to secure a presidential pardon. According to Bobrisky, this supposed favor cost N10 million. She or he further claimed that he or she requested N3 million from Falz to ensure preferential treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre. These allegations have raised eyebrows and caused significant public outcry, leading to the Falana family’s firm response.

In a second audio clip also shared by VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky alleged that she or he had paid N5 million upfront to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to facilitate a Federal Government pardon concerning charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). These serious allegations have prompted the Falana family to take legal action to protect their names and reputations.

In response to these allegations, Falana’s legal team, through Olorunfemi Akinyemi and Taiwo E. Olawanle, issued a strongly worded letter dated October 14, 2024. The letter categorically refuted Bobrisky’s claims, describing them as baseless and harmful to the reputations of both Femi Falana and his son, Falz. The legal representatives made it clear that such defamatory statements would not be tolerated and that they were prepared to take the necessary steps to defend their clients’ reputations.

The legal representatives demanded a full public retraction of the defamatory statements and a formal apology to be published on all platforms where the audios were circulated. The letter stressed that failure to comply could result in further legal action. The Falanas are determined to uphold their dignity and ensure that truth prevails in the face of falsehoods spread online.