Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has demanded a public retraction and apology from popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, over allegations that Falana requested N10 million to facilitate a presidential pardon.
In a letter dated October 14, 2024, issued by Falana’s legal representatives, Olorunfemi Akinyemi, Esq., and Taiwo E. Olawanle, Esq., Bobrisky was accused of making defamatory and false statements regarding Falana’s involvement in the alleged bribe.
Bobrisky had claimed in audios circulating online that Falana had requested N10 million to secure a presidential pardon for him following his recent imprisonment, adding that he had already paid N5 million to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to secure the pardon.
The legal team stated that Bobrisky’s claims were entirely baseless and damaging to Falana’s reputation.
They demanded a full retraction and apology, which should be prominently published on all platforms where the statements were disseminated.
Should Bobrisky fail to comply within 12 hours of receiving the letter, Falana’s lawyers warned they would pursue legal action, including claims for monetary damages.
The letter, obtained by SaharaReporters, further revealed that Bobrisky had attempted to solicit N3 million from rapper Folarin Falana (Falz), Falana’s son, claiming that the lawyer had promised to secure a special accommodation at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
Falana’s legal team made it clear that no such conversation ever took place and that Bobrisky’s claims were aimed at extorting money from the public while tarnishing Falana’s professional standing.
The letter reads, “We are Counsel to Mr. Femi Falana SAN (hereinafter referred to as “our client) on whose behalf we write this letter regarding your slanderous statement against him.
“We have confirmed that you took advantage of your recent imprisonment to extort money from a group of artists and other members of the public. You would recall that you called Mr. Falarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, on May 4, 2024, and requested him to assist you with the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira) to secure a special place in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
“Even though Falz turned down your request you were quoted in a video to have said that he informed you that his father, our client, had undertaken to write a letter of pardon for you. You also said that our client had spoken to you and that the sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) would be needed to bribe officials who would process the application for your pardon.”
It continued, “In another video, you claimed that you had paid N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) upfront to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in an attempt to secure a Federal Government pardon over the charges filed against you by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“You also claimed that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria had initially requested N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) for his legal services but that you explained to him that you were unable to raise the full amount as your account had been frozen by the EFCC.”
Falana’s legal team noted that Bobrisky set out to enrich himself at the expense of their client’s reputation.
“In fact, you have since published a list of persons who believed your concocted story and donated millions of Naira to pay our client to write a letter of pardon and bribe some unnamed public officers on your behalf.
“Your decision to involve our client in the criminal enterprise was a figment of your fertile imagination.
“Contrary to your spurious claims, you never briefed our client to write a letter of pardon for you,” the letter reads.
The legal team explained that Bobrisky has never spoke to their client or instructed him to write a letter of pardon for him.
They further denied that Bobrisky made a part payment of N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) to their client and that their client never informed him that he had submitted a letter of pardon on his behalf.
“You will agree with us that you made all these defamatory statements in a reckless manner when you knew that you did not call our client on the phone to instruct him to write a letter of pardon on your behalf. Our client has NEVER spoken to you on your pardon or any subject whatsoever,” the lawyers said.
The statement continues, “Having regard to the fact that our client has secured pardon for not less than 300 Nigerians convicted by military and civilian courts in Nigeria, Libya, Thailand and The Gambia on a pro bono basis, your defamatory statements have severely damaged his reputation at home and abroad.
“We, therefore, demand the immediate retraction of the defamatory and derogatory statements as well as an apology prominently aired or published on all the platforms to which you have disseminated the offensive statement without any justification whatsoever.
“Be advised that if we do not receive your formal retraction and apology as demanded within 12 (twelve) hours of the receipt hereof, we shall proceed with our client’s instructions to seek appropriate legal remedies, including monetary damages, against you for your incendiary defamatory statements.
“We hope that the salient issues raised herein will urgently be addressed by you in your own interest,” they added.
On Tuesday, SaharaReporters reported that the Lagos High Court had issued an interim order restraining Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, from further publishing defamatory content about the renowned human rights lawyer.
The court directed VeryDarkMan, his agents, and any associates to remove the defamatory videos and comments posted on September 24, 2024, across all his social media platforms.
Justice M.O. Dawodu granted the order on Monday, pending Otse’s compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol of the court.
The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit numbered ID/8586GCM/2024, filed by Falana against VeryDarkMan.
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