Human rights lawyer Femi Falana and his son, musician Folarin Falana, known as Falz, are demanding a public apology from popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, commonly called Bobrisky.
The call for an apology follows serious allegations made by Bobrisky in audio recordings that have spread widely on social media.
In these recordings, Bobrisky claimed that he had contacted Falz to help persuade his father to secure a presidential pardon, supposedly for a fee of N10 million.
In one of the audio clips shared by media critic Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky alleged that Falz asked him for N3 million to secure special treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
Additionally, Bobrisky claimed that he had paid N5 million to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to obtain a pardon from the Federal Government regarding charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On October 14, 2024, Falana’s legal representatives, Olorunfemi Akinyemi and Taiwo E. Olawanle, sent a letter accusing Bobrisky of making false statements that have harmed the reputation of Falana and his son.
The letter was made public on Wednesday, and it outlines the serious nature of the claims made by Bobrisky.
“Your statements are slanderous and defamatory,” the letter asserts.
The letter points out that Bobrisky’s claims are not only baseless but also damaging to Falana’s reputation.
In the letter, the legal team wrote, “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.”
The letter continued by addressing specific accusations made by Bobrisky.
“You will recall that on May 4, 2024, you called Mr. Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, and requested N3 million to secure special treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre,” it stated.
“Although Falz refused your request, you falsely claimed that he told you his father had agreed to write a letter of pardon for you.”
The letter also refuted Bobrisky’s allegations of bribery.
“You stated that N10 million was required to bribe officials to process your pardon. This is completely false,” the lawyers emphasized.
Falana’s legal team further stressed that no such conversation ever took place between Bobrisky and Falz.
They described Bobrisky’s allegations as an attempt to extort money while tarnishing their client’s professional image.
“In fact, you have published a list of individuals who believed your fabricated story and contributed millions of naira, supposedly to pay our client to write a letter of pardon,” the letter stated.
The lawyers argued that Bobrisky’s claims were merely a figment of his imagination.
The letter concluded with a demand for an immediate public apology and retraction of the statements.
“Given that our client has secured pardons for over 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,” the legal team asserted.
They urged Bobrisky to retract his statements and publicly apologize across all platforms where his claims were shared.
“If we do not receive your formal retraction and apology within 12 hours of your receipt of this letter, we will proceed with legal action,” the letter warned.
The Falanas are known figures in Nigeria, especially in the realm of human rights advocacy.
Femi Falana has a long history of fighting for justice and has helped many individuals secure pardons.
His son, Falz, is not only a musician but also an activist who speaks out on social issues.
Bobrisky’s claims have sparked outrage and concern among many Nigerians who respect the work that Falana has done.
There are growing questions about the integrity of the claims made by Bobrisky, particularly given his controversial reputation.
The public is now watching closely as the situation unfolds.
The demands from the Falanas have created a stir on social media, with many people expressing support for their quest for justice.
Human rights activists and legal experts have weighed in, emphasizing the importance of holding individuals accountable for defamatory statements.
This incident also raises questions about the responsibility of public figures when making claims about others.
Falana’s legal team is prepared to take action if Bobrisky does not comply with their demands.
