Renowned Nigerian musician, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has taken swift action against defamatory statements linking him to a conversation involving Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky. Falz’s legal team, led by his father, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, issued a formal letter demanding a retraction of the allegations made by social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.
The controversy began when VeryDarkMan shared an audio recording suggesting Falz’s involvement in securing a presidential pardon for Bobrisky, who faces Naira abuse charges. However, Falz’s team maintains that their client never initiated a conversation with Bobrisky and has documentary evidence to prove it. According to the letter, Bobrisky requested financial assistance and legal advice from Falz, asking for N3 million to secure VIP treatment during his detention.
Falz advised Bobrisky that such payments were unnecessary, but Bobrisky insisted, leading to Falz’s refusal to provide financial support. The letter states, “Our client never solicited or agreed to assist Bobrisky financially… Instead, Mr. Idris Okuneye (Aka Bobrisky) stated that his lawyers had messed up his case by asking him to plead guilty to the charges filed against him.” This clarification aims to set the record straight and dispel any misconceptions surrounding Falz’s involvement.
Falz’s team characterized VeryDarkMan’s post as a “vicious, wicked and reckless” attempt to malign Falz’s reputation. They demanded an immediate retraction of the offending statements within 24 hours, along with a public apology across all platforms where the defamatory remarks were made. This demand seeks to protect Falz’s reputation and hold VeryDarkMan accountable for spreading false information.
In a related development, Bobrisky alleged that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives demanded and received N15 million from him to drop money laundering charges. The EFCC has responded by ordering an immediate investigation into the claims. The commission has constituted a team of investigators to thoroughly examine the accusations and has invited both Bobrisky and VeryDarkMan to assist investigators.
The EFCC assured the public that the allegations will be diligently investigated and that the findings will be made public. This development highlights the seriousness of the allegations and the need for thorough investigation.
Falz’s legal team emphasized that failure to comply with their demands would result in seeking “appropriate legal remedies, including monetary damages, against you for your incendiary publication and dissemination of defamatory statements.”
Peace OdekunleSeptember 25, 20241 Mins read
