Falana, Falz Issue 12-Hour Ultimatum To Bobrisky Over Defamatory Claims
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, and his son, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, have demanded a public apology and retraction from popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, over defamatory statements made in circulating audio recordings.
In the recordings, shared by controversial media personality Martin Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky alleged that he had sought Falz’s assistance in persuading his father, Falana, to secure a presidential pardon for N10 million. Bobrisky also claimed to have requested N3 million from Falz for special treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre. Additionally, he stated that he had paid N5 million upfront to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to facilitate a Federal Government pardon over charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a letter dated October 14, 2024, Falana’s legal team, represented by Olorunfemi Akinyemi and Taiwo E. Olawanle, strongly refuted these claims, describing them as false and damaging. The letter, seen by our correspondent, demands that Bobrisky issue a full retraction and public apology on all platforms where the allegations were shared.
The legal team emphasized that Bobrisky’s statements were entirely fabricated, aiming to extort money from the public while tarnishing Falana’s reputation. They clarified that neither Falana nor Falz had any involvement in the alleged bribery or pardon efforts, and no such conversations ever took place.
“You falsely claimed in a video that Falz’s father had agreed to write a letter of pardon for you. You also stated that N10 million was needed to bribe officials to process your pardon,” the letter read. It also addressed Bobrisky’s claim of paying N5 million to a Senior Advocate, dismissing it as completely baseless.
The letter further warned that if Bobrisky fails to issue an apology and retraction within 12 hours of receiving the letter, legal action would follow, including claims for damages for the defamatory statements.
Additionally, the Lagos State High Court has ordered VeryDarkMan to remove defamatory content linking Falana and Falz to Bobrisky from his social media platforms. Justice M.O. Dawodu ruled on Monday that the posts were harmful to their public image.
Failure to comply with the demands set by Falana’s legal team could lead to further legal consequences for Bobrisky.
