By DAYO ADESULU
Legal Action Threatened Following Allegations of Bribery
Human rights lawyer Mr. Femi Falana and his son, Folarin, known as rapper Falz, have issued a formal demand to popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, for an immediate retraction of alleged defamatory statements regarding their involvement in a purported N10 million bribe.
Demands for Apology and Retraction
The Falanas are insisting on a public apology to be aired or published across all platforms that disseminated the derogatory statements without any justification. Their legal representatives, Olorunfemi Akinyemj and Taiwo Olawanle, delivered a letter on October 14, 2024, granting Bobrisky a strict 12-hour deadline to comply. Should he fail to do so, the Falanas’ legal team is prepared to seek appropriate legal remedies, including monetary damages, for what they describe as incendiary and defamatory remarks.
Allegations Detailed in Legal Correspondence
The letter outlines serious allegations against Bobrisky, claiming he exploited his recent imprisonment to extort funds from various artists and members of the public. It references a phone call made by Bobrisky to Falz on May 4, 2024, where he allegedly requested N3 million for preferential treatment in Kirikiri prison.
The correspondence also details Bobrisky’s claims in a video, where he purportedly stated that Falz informed him that his father would write a letter of pardon, contingent upon a N10 million bribe to officials processing the pardon application. Furthermore, Bobrisky allegedly claimed to have paid N5 million to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria for legal services related to his charges from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Protecting Reputation and Pursuing Justice
The Falanas’ legal team contends that Bobrisky’s statements were made recklessly, aimed at tarnishing their reputation for personal gain. They refute all claims made by Bobrisky, asserting that he never engaged their services for a letter of pardon and that no payments were made to them.
The letter concludes with a strong assertion that Bobrisky’s allegations were fabricated and that he acted with disregard for the truth when making his claims.
