Bobrisky: Falz To Sue VeryDarkMan For Defamation

Nigerian Rapper, Folarin Falana, also known as Falz, has threatened to file a lawsuit against Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, over a recent post on social media linking him to a scandal.

VeryDarkMan shared an audio recording on social media purporting that Falz and his father, Femi Falana, helped crossdresser, Bobrisky, bribe his way to have money laundering charges filed against him by the EFCC dropped.

Bobrisky was recently prosecuted and sentenced to six months for abuse of naira notes.

The revelation sparked reactions among Nigerians, especially fans of the singer, with many wondering why Falz as a human rights activist would get involved in such.

Reacting to the viral video, Falz vehemently denied the allegations made against him and proceeded to give VDM 24 hours to withdraw and retract the “defamatory” comments made against him, threatening to sue him if he failed to comply.

In a letter dated September 26 and signed by his counsel, Taiwo E. Olawanle, the singer also demanded an apology from VeryDarkMan, who he claimed did not contact him before going public with with his claims.

Falz admitted that Bobrisky reached out to him for help in his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but denied assisting the crossdresser get the charges dropped.

The letter reads in parts, “Your publication of September 25, 2024, on your Instagram page captioned “In everything and everyone that is mentioned here, I will be disappointed if truly FALZ and his father are involved in this whole Bobrisky issue…” has been drawn to our notice wherein you made some defamatory statements against our client.

“To set the records straight, our client never at any point initiated a conversation with Mr Idris Okuneye. Our client has documentary evidence that Mr. Idris was in fact the one who initiated a call.

“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.

According to Falz, VDM by his comments on the video, insinuated that he is “complicit in the upturning of justice for financial gains, lacking integrity and is falsely claiming to be a human rights activist.

“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.

“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.” the letter read.