Femi Falana, a distinguished human rights lawyer, has come forward to clarify his position regarding recent allegations made by Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, after a leaked audio recording sparked controversy.
In an interview with Channels Television, Falana emphatically stated that he has never met or spoken to Bobrisky, despite claims circulating on social media.
The uproar began when activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, shared a purported audio conversation in which Bobrisky alleged that Falana and his son, rapper Falz, reached out to her while she was serving a six-month prison sentence for currency abuse.
In the recording, Bobrisky claimed that the two tried to negotiate a presidential pardon for her in exchange for a significant sum of money—N10 million.
Bobrisky has denied the authenticity of the leaked audio and has threatened to sue VeryDarkMan for defamation.
In response to these claims, Falana and his son have indicated they are considering legal action against the activist unless he retracts his statements and issues an apology.
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During the interview, Falana elaborated on the circumstances surrounding the allegations. He explained that Bobrisky contacted Falz on May 4, asking for N3 million to secure a spot in a so-called “VIP section” of the prison.
Falana revealed that his son refused the request, suggesting that Bobrisky should not make such calls without proper authorization from prison authorities.
“My son said, ‘are you calling me under the authorization of the superintendent of prisons?’ He said no. Then Falz said, ‘don’t call me again. I’m unable to assist you to bribe the prison authorities,’” Falana recounted.
Falana condemned the actions of VeryDarkMan, labeling them as “infantile radicalism.”
He expressed concern over the lack of understanding among some young activists regarding the legal ramifications of defamation. “Some of our young people are not prepared to look at the provisions of the law with respect to the law of defamation,” he noted.
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The seasoned lawyer highlighted his extensive track record of helping individuals secure pardons without any financial compensation, emphasizing his commitment to justice.
“I have assisted 280 convicted people home and abroad to get pardon. On no occasion did our law firm demand for or receive a dime or kobo from anybody granted pardon,” he asserted.
While Falana has refrained from filing a criminal complaint regarding the allegations, he plans to pursue civil action to restore his and his son’s reputations. “We want to make an example so that nobody will simply rush to social media to defame any Nigerian,” he said.
Falana’s statements reflect his commitment to uphold integrity in public discourse and his determination to challenge defamatory remarks.
As the controversy unfolds, he aims to ensure that the truth prevails while discouraging further defamation in the digital age.