Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has dismissed the accusations made by blogger VeryDarkMan, whose real name is Martins Otse, as “infantile radicalism.”
The controversy stems from a voice note shared by VeryDarkMan, in which crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, claimed to have paid ₦15 million to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to drop money laundering charges against him. In the recording, Bobrisky also alleged that Falana sought ₦10 million in exchange for securing a presidential pardon for him.
Falana has refuted these claims, describing them as baseless and demanding an apology from VeryDarkMan. “Infantile radicalism. Some of our young people are not prepared to understand the law regarding defamation. They just go out there and embarrass people,” he said during Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s *Politics Today*.
While Falana clarified that he wouldn’t file criminal charges, he stressed that he intends to pursue civil proceedings to protect his reputation. “What we are going to do is embark on civil proceedings to restore my integrity and that of my son so that people can’t just rush to social media to defame anyone,” he said. Falana added that if a retraction and apology aren’t forthcoming, he will proceed with legal action.
Falana also denied having any connection with Bobrisky, stating, “I have never met him, I don’t know him. He never spoke to me. He was alleged to have spoken to my son, Folarin (Falz).”
Narrating the encounter, Falana explained that Bobrisky reached out to his son in May, asking for ₦3 million to be placed in a VIP section of a prison. Falz declined, warning Bobrisky against attempting to bribe prison officials and advising him to follow proper channels if he sought further communication.
Despite this, Falana said, “Somebody started releasing tapes and defamed me by suggesting I had spoken to him,” further adding to his call for accountability.