Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has issued a demand for a public retraction and apology from popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, following claims that Falana requested N10 million to facilitate a presidential pardon for him. The allegations, spread by Bobrisky through audios circulating online, have been called false and defamatory by Falana’s legal team.
In a letter dated October 14, 2024, Falana’s legal representatives, Olorunfemi Akinyemi and Taiwo Olawanle, stated that the accusations have tarnished the lawyer’s reputation. Bobrisky had claimed he paid N5 million to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria as part of a N10 million deal to secure a pardon for his imprisonment.
Falana’s legal team categorically denied any such involvement, stating that their client has never had any conversation with Bobrisky regarding a pardon. The letter also revealed that Bobrisky attempted to solicit N3 million from rapper Folarin Falana (Falz), claiming Falana had promised special accommodations at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The legal team warned Bobrisky to retract his statements and issue an apology across all platforms where the allegations were shared, or face legal action.
The letter reads, “We are Counsel to Mr. Femi Falana SAN (hereinafter referred to as “our client) on whose behalf we write this letter regarding your slanderous statement against him.
“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. You would recall that you called Mr. Falarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, on May 4, 2024, and requested him to assist you with the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira) to secure a special place in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
“Even though Falz turned down your request you were quoted in a video to have said that he informed you that his father, our client, had undertaken to write a letter of pardon for you. You also said that our client had spoken to you and that the sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) would be needed to bribe officials who would process the application for your pardon.”
“In another video, you claimed that you had paid N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) upfront to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in an attempt to secure a Federal Government pardon over the charges filed against you by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“You also claimed that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria had initially requested N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) for his legal services but that you explained to him that you were unable to raise the full amount as your account had been frozen by the EFCC.”
It added, “In fact, you have since published a list of persons who believed your concocted story and donated millions of Naira to pay our client to write a letter of pardon and bribe some unnamed public officers on your behalf.
“Your decision to involve our client in the criminal enterprise was a figment of your fertile imagination.
“Contrary to your spurious claims, you never briefed our client to write a letter of pardon for you,” the letter reads.
“You will agree with us that you made all these defamatory statements in a reckless manner when you knew that you did not call our client on the phone to instruct him to write a letter of pardon on your behalf. Our client has NEVER spoken to you on your pardon or any subject whatsoever.”
The statement continues, “Having regard to the fact that our client has secured pardon for not less than 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 at home and abroad.
“We, therefore, demand the immediate retraction of the defamatory and derogatory statements as well as an apology prominently aired or published on all the platforms to which you have disseminated the offensive statement without any justification whatsoever.
“Be advised that if we do not receive your formal retraction and apology as demanded within 12 (twelve) hours of the receipt hereof, we shall proceed with our client’s instructions to seek appropriate legal remedies, including monetary damages, against you for your incendiary defamatory statements.
“We hope that the salient issues raised herein will urgently be addressed by you in your own interest”.
