Bobrisky: Retract Your Defamatory Statement Or Face Legal Action – Falz To Verydarkman
Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz has given social media influencer VeryDarkMan a 24-hour ultimatum to retract alleged defamatory statements made against him.
The ultimatum was issued through a letter from Falana & Falana Chambers, demanding an immediate retraction and apology for the claims made in a September 25, 2024 post on Instagram.
Osun Defender reported that Verydarkman in a audio he released yesterday alleged
Falana of attempting to secure a presidential pardon for Idris Okuneye, popularly called Bobrisky in exchange for N10,000,000.
The post alleged that Falana spoke to Bobrisky in an attempt to โdivert justiceโ and secure a presidential pardon for the sum of N10,000,000.
According to the letter, a copy obtained by Osun Defender, the defamatory remarks were made in a September 25, 2024 post on VeryDarkManโs Instagram page, which suggested that Femi Falana and his son, Folarin Falana (FALZ), were involved in a controversial matter regarding popular Nigerian crossdresser, Bobrisky.
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The letter described these claims as โvicious, wicked, and reckless,โ asserting that they were intended to tarnish the lawyerโs esteemed reputation.
It emphasised that Mr. Falana has never communicated with Bobrisky regarding any matter, let alone sought a presidential pardon for the crossdresser.
The noted that the statements were โfalse, misleading, and defamatoryโ, and sought to misrepresent Falanaโs lifelong fight against injustice and corruption.
The letter said while VeryDarkMan is entitled to his right to freedom of expression under the Nigerian Constitution, he has a duty to ensure that any claims he publishes are factual.
The Chambers demanded an immediate retraction of the defamatory statements and a public apology, to be published across all platforms where the false information was disseminated.
It added that should the retraction and apology not be issued within 24 hours, legal action will be pursued, including claims for monetary damages.
The letter read in part, “Specifically, on the 4th of May 2024, Mr Idris Okuneye (AKA Bobrisky) contacted our client requesting a phone conversation with him. Our client gratuitously obliged, having knowledge of the Naira abuse charges leveled against him, and genuinely believing he might require legal advice.
“Mr Idris Okuneye (Aka Bobrisky) called shortly after but instead of soliciting legal advice, stated that he was in distress and needed financial assistance of about N3,000,000 (Three million Naira) which he claimed he needed to pay some officials to be permitted to stay in the VIP section of the Correctional Centre.
“Our client, in the same conversation, advised him that there was no need to pay the officials of the Correctional Centre any money. However, Mr Idris Okuneye (Aka Bobrisky) stated that his lawyers had messed up his case by asking him to plead guilty to the charges filed against him. Mr Idris Okuneye (Aka Bobrisky) insisted on his request for the money which our client continuously disapproved.
“Without contacting our client, you went ahead to publish a careless statement containing multiple allegations including an insinuation that our client is involved in a homosexual affair and intended to get a presidential pardon for, Mr Idris Okuneye.
“The direct meaning, imputation, purport and/or innuendo of the false, misleading and defamatory statement is that: Our client, Mr Folarin Falana (Aka Falz) connived with Bobrisky to pervert the cause of justice and he is complicit in the upturning of justice for financial gains.
“Our client is participating in a device that constitutes subterfuge and lacks integrity, in concert with others with whom you also characterize as corrupt
“Our client’s posturing as a human rights activist is deceitful and false
“The entire publication was a vicious, wicked and reckless ploy to impugn the reputation of our client and lower him in the estimation of right-thinking members of the public.
“We, therefore, demand an immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication as well as an apology prominently published on all the platforms to which you have disseminated it without any justification whatsoever.”
