Controversial self-proclaimed activist, Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, has refuted claims of defaming human rights lawyer, Femi Falana and rapper Folarin Falana, better known as Falz.
Falz and Falana had given VeryDarkMan a 24-hour deadline to withdraw his statements accusing them of being involved in securing lenient treatment for cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, during his jail term.
KanyiDaily recalls that Bobrisky was sentenced to three months in jail after admitting guilt to currency mutilation following his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was released on August 5, 2024.
On September 24, 2024, VeryDarkMan shared an alleged voice recording of Bobrisky, where the cross-dresser claimed that Femi Falana and his son, Falz, played a role in getting the EFCC to drop money laundering charges against him.
In the leaked audio, Bobrisky alleged that certain EFCC officials took N15 million from him to dismiss the charges.
Femi Falana and Falz, through their legal representatives at Falana & Falana’s Chambers, issued separate statements denying the bribery allegations.
They demanded an immediate retraction of the claims and a public apology from VeryDarkMan across all platforms within 24 hours.
Falz, in a letter dated September 25, 2024, denied ever communicating with Bobrisky, calling for the removal of the “false and offensive statements” and insisted on a public apology.
The pre-litigation notice from Falana & Falana’s Chambers, signed by Taiwo E. Olawanle, Esq., was titled “Demand for Withdrawal and Retraction Statement Against Mr. Folarin Falana (aka Falz).”
In his response, VeryDarkMan through his lawyer Deji Adeyanju, stated in a letter that Falz had acknowledged parts of the voice recording in his own legal response.
The letter, dated September 25, 2024, clarified that VeryDarkMan’s intention was not to defame Falana, but to bring attention to serious allegations that require investigation.
It stressed that VeryDarkMan holds Falana in high regard and respects his work in human rights.
VeryDarkMan emphasized that rather than defamation, the issue should be addressed through an interagency investigation into Bobrisky’s claims.
The letter, titled “RE: DEMAND FOR WITHDRAWAL AND RETRACTION OF DEFAMATORY STATEMENT AGAINST MR FEMI FALANA, SAN,” reads, “We are Solicitors to Mr. Martins Vincent Otse (hereinafter referred to as our client) on whose instruction we act.
Our client is in receipt of your letter dated September 25, 2024, on the above subject matter wherein you demanded for the retraction of his Instagram publication containing a voice recording between Mr Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju (Bobrisky) and a third party.
“Our client denies defaming Mr Femi Falana, SAN, a renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and globally recognised human rights activist, but asserts that he only published the said communication with a view to getting the relevant agencies, and even your client, to initiate a thorough investigation into the far reaching allegations made by Mr Okuneye in the said voice recording, especially as some element of the voice recording has been confirmed by Mr Folarin Falana in his solicitor’s letter of September 25, 2024.
“Our client holds Mr. Femi Falana, SAN in very high esteem and recognises his commitment to the protection of human rights and rule of law in Nigeria. It is in the light of the foregoing that our client believes that the appropriate line of action in the circumstance is an interagency investigation into the allegations contained in the voice recording rather than pursuing a case of defamation.”
VeryDarkMan also responded in a video shared on his social media pages, denying any intention to defame either Femi Falana or Falz.
The social media activist reiterated that he was only reacting to what Bobrisky said in the leaked recording.
He said, “I never defamed uncle Femi Falana, and I’ll never do so. Uncle Femi Falana is somebody that I respect so much. Not because of his position as a SAN but because of what he has used his position to do, representing the likes of me that speak against the ills of society, abuse of power, abuse of influence and also the bad dealings of the government.
“I only reacted to the call Bobrisky made. He was the one that alleged that Falz connected him to uncle Femi Falana and bla bla bla N10 million.
“And what I said was that I chose not to believe that uncle Femi Falana would be associated with that and if, I would be disappointed because of his position in society.
“I had an option of cutting off the part of the leaked audio where Bobrisky mentioned Falz but I refused because I want a thorough investigation on the matter,” he added.
Watch the video below:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1839115722338844862
https://twitter.com/dammiedammie35/status/1839029014767227038
KanyiDaily recalls that EFCC had summoned VeryDarkMan and Bobrisky for questioning over claims of bribery involving some of its officials.