Kehinde Fajobi
Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has called on human rights activist Femi Falana and his son, Folarin, aka Falz, to hold media critic Martin Otse, known as VeryDarkMan accountable for defamatory statements circulating on social media.
Bobrisky asserted that he never paid Falana or his son for assistance in securing a presidential pardon during his time in prison.
This statement comes after Falana and Falz demanded a public apology and retraction of claims made by Bobrisky in audio recordings shared online.
According to reports, Bobrisky was recorded alleging that he had asked Falz for help in persuading Falana to obtain a presidential pardon, which he claimed cost N10 million. Additionally, Bobrisky alleged he requested N3 million from Falz for special treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
In another audio shared by VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky claimed to have paid N5 million to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in an attempt to secure a pardon from the Federal Government for charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
However, in a letter dated 14 October 2024 from Falana’s legal representatives, Bobrisky was accused of making false and damaging statements regarding the alleged bribery and pardon involving Falana and his son. The lawyers described Bobrisky’s claims as completely unfounded and harmful to Falana’s reputation, demanding a full retraction and apology to be published on all platforms where the statements were made.
In response to these demands, Bobrisky reiterated that he did not provide any money to Falana or Falz for a presidential pardon. He emphasized that the individual responsible for disseminating the defamatory content should be held accountable.
“I, Okuneye Idris aka Bobrisky, didn’t give Falz or his dad any money for pardon. As a matter of fact, no penny was given to them. I have said this before and I will say it again. The person that published an audio online should take full responsibility for what he posted in public,” Bobrisky stated in an Instagram story on Wednesday.
He further added, “In reply to the two letters in circulation from the law firm of the Falanas, I would like to state for the record, pending the official reply from my counsel, that I, Okuneye Idris Olarewaju aka Bobrisky, did not publish any defamatory statements concerning the learned SAN and his son Falz. I have denied any knowledge of what VDM published.”
Bobrisky concluded by stressing the importance of protecting his privacy and the rights of anyone allegedly defamed, insisting that the publisher of the content should be held accountable.