Nigeria’s Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son Folarin, popularly known as Falz, have demanded that popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, issue a public apology and retract alleged defamatory statements he made against them.
In separate Pre-Notice letters written by their lawyer, Taiwo Olawanle, the senior lawyer, and his musician son gave Bobrisky a 12-hour ultimatum to comply with their demands or be ready to face legal actions.
In letters dated 14 October 2024, the duo accused the controversial social media celebrity of falsehood and making unfounded statements in audio recordings circulating online to damage their reputation.
The contentious audios were published online by social media influencer Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who the Falanas have dragged before a Lagos State High Court, demanding N1 billion as damages.
In one of the audios, Bobrisky can be heard claiming that he had spoken with Falz, requesting his assistance in persuading his father (Falana) to help secure a presidential pardon, which allegedly cost N10 million.
The crossdresser also alleged that he asked Falz for N3 million to secure special treatment at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
In another audio shared by VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky claimed to have paid N5 million upfront to a Senior Nigerian advocate to secure a Federal Government pardon over charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
However, in their Pre-Action letters, Falana and his son insisted that the allegations made in the audios were entirely unfounded and damaging to their reputation, and they demanded a full retraction and apology to be published on all platforms where the statements were shared.
The letter reads, “We are Counsel to Mr Femi Falana SAN (from now on referred to as “our client) on whose behalf we write this letter regarding your defamatory 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 N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) would be needed to bribe officials to 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 could not raise the full amount as the EFCC had frozen your account.”
It added, “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 that you made all these defamatory statements recklessly 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 a 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 and 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 you will urgently address the salient issues raised herein in your interest,” they stated.
