Nigerian human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has issued a 12-hour ultimatum to popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, demanding a public retraction and apology for defamatory statements regarding Falana’s alleged involvement in a bribery scheme.
In a letter dated October 14, 2024, from Falana’s legal representatives, Olorunfemi Akinyemi, Esq., and Taiwo E. Olawanle, Esq., Bobrisky is accused of making false claims that Falana requested N10 million to secure a presidential pardon following his recent imprisonment.
Bobrisky had circulated audios online alleging that Falana sought the bribe to facilitate his release, asserting he had already paid N5 million to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria for the same purpose. Falana’s legal team has labeled these assertions as entirely baseless and damaging to their client’s reputation.
Should Bobrisky fail to comply with the demands within the specified time frame, Falana’s lawyers have warned of potential legal action, including claims for monetary damages.
The letter, obtained by SaharaReporters, also revealed that Bobrisky attempted to solicit N3 million from Falana’s son, rapper Folarin Falana (Falz), claiming that Falana had promised to arrange special accommodations at Kirikiri Correctional Centre. Falana’s legal team firmly denied any such conversation took place, asserting that Bobrisky’s claims were an attempt to extort money while tarnishing Falana’s professional standing.
The letter details several allegations made by Bobrisky, including claims that he had paid N5 million to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in hopes of securing a pardon for charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Falana’s legal team emphasized that Bobrisky had never engaged their client for such services, nor had he made any payments to him.
The legal representatives highlighted that Falana has successfully secured pardons for over 300 individuals convicted in various jurisdictions, asserting that Bobrisky’s defamatory statements have significantly harmed his reputation both domestically and internationally.
Falana’s team demands a prompt retraction and apology, to be prominently published on all platforms where the defamatory claims were made. They warned that failure to comply would lead to legal remedies being sought, including monetary damages.
In a related development, a Lagos High Court recently issued an interim order against Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, restraining him from publishing defamatory content about Falana. The court directed the removal of defamatory videos and comments posted on September 24, 2024, across all social media platforms, pending compliance with court protocols.