Renowned lawyer and human rights advocate, Femi Falana (SAN), has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to self-styled activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, demanding a retraction of his “offensive and derogatory” statements or face legal action.
In a letter sent on Wednesday by Falana’s legal representative, Taiwo E. Olawanle, VeryDarkMan was instructed to publicly retract his accusations and apologize within the specified time frame. The dispute arose after VeryDarkMan claimed that Falana requested ₦10,000,000 from cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, in exchange for removing his name from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) records.
Olawanle condemned these claims as a “vicious, wicked, and reckless ploy” to damage Falana’s reputation. He further stressed that Falana has never had any discussions with Bobrisky regarding any form of pardon or related issues.
Olawanle acknowledged that while freedom of expression is a constitutional right, it must be exercised responsibly without maligning another person’s character with baseless allegations.
Olawanle said, “We, therefore, demand immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication as well as an apology prominently published in all the platforms to which you have disseminated it without any justification whatsoever.
“Be advised that if we do not receive your formal retraction and apology as demanded within 24 (twenty-four) 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 publication and dissemination of defamatory statements.
“We hope that the salient issue raised herein will urgently be addressed by you in your own interest,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, VeryDarkman accused Bobrisky of failing to repay a debt of N4 million.
To support his claims, he leaked a video recording that purportedly reveals how the cross-dresser navigated his six-month jail term in April.
According to VeryDarkman, Bobrisky allegedly bribed EFCC officers with N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him.
In the same video, VeryDarkman alleged that Bobrisky paid N10 million to Falz (Folarin Falana) and his father (Femi Falana) to intercede on his behalf and plead for a pardon.
Following these allegations, the EFCC has launched an investigation into claims that some of its officers accepted N15 million from Bobrisky to dismiss the money laundering charges against him.
The inquiry, directed by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, comes in light of a viral audio recording in which Bobrisky, an ex-convict, made these allegations.
