Popular Nigerian crossdresser Mr Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, has denied making defamatory statements against renowned lawyer and activist Femi Falana, and his son Folarin Falana, popularly called Falz.
Bobrisky directed Falz and his father to hold controversial social media critic Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, responsible for the defamatory content circulating on social media.
LEADERSHIP reports that VeryDarkMan had last month shared an audio conversation where Bobrisky allegedly claimed that Falana and Falz contacted him while she was serving a six-month sentence for naira abuse.
In the recording, Bobrisky alleged that Falz and his father “tried to get me a presidential pardon in exchange for N10 million”.
LEADERSHIP recalls that on Wednesday, Falana and Falz demanded a public apology and retraction of the alleged defamatory statements within 12 hours.
The legal team described Bobrisky’s claims as entirely unfounded and damaging to Falana’s reputation. They also demanded a full retraction and apology, to be published on all platforms where the statements were shared.
Bobrisky had described the viral recording as “fake” and threatened to sue VeryDarkMan for alleged defamation, adding that he never gave Falana or his son any money to get a presidential pardon during his prison ordeal.
Reacting on Instagram, Bobrisky argued that only VeryDarkMan should be held responsible for “publishing defamatory content”, expressing that his fundamental right to communication is not being respected.
He also stated that his legal representative is working on a detailed explanation.
“I Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju aka Bobrisky did not publish any defamatory statement or statements concerning the learned SAN and his son Falz, and it is in public domain pursuant to my solicitor’s letter dated the 27th day of September 2024 that I have denied any knowledge of what VDM published,” he wrote.
“I stand by my express denial and put the matter to strict proof and advise that whoever has been defamed should hold the publisher of the defamatory content and my fundamental rights to privacy of my communications should be respected and protected,” Bobrisky said.