Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has alleged a risk to his life and daughter amidst the continued N10 million ‘presidential pardon’ allegation involving him, his son, Falz and embattled crossdresser Idris ‘Bobrisky’ Okuneye.
In September, PREMIUM TIMES reported that social media influencer Martin ‘VeryDarkMan’ Otse posted a leaked telephone name recording which indicted Mr Falana and his son, Falz.
Within the leaked audio, Bobrisky alleged that whereas he was imprisoned on the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Mr Falana and his son approached him, providing to safe a presidential pardon for a price of N10 million whereas serving his six-month jail time period.
Nonetheless, this newspaper reported that Mr Falana denied figuring out Bobrisky or ever soliciting N10 million to facilitate a pardon for him. Falz additionally denied the allegation however admitted that Bobrisky had contacted him for monetary help of N3 million, which he claimed he hadn’t provided.
In defence of his innocence and his son, Mr Falana, throughout an interview with Sahara Reporters posted on YouTube Monday, revealed that he and his daughter acquired dying threats from VeryDarkMan’s supporters.
He mentioned: “The one disturbing space on this situation is the risk to me and certainly one of my two daughters. A few of these guys, who I believed had been mentally derailed, have dared me that if I am going to courtroom, they are going to burn my workplace, and so they’ve additionally despatched messages to certainly one of my daughters that in case your father goes to courtroom, we will kill you.
“On this nation, I laughed and informed my daughter to not fear; I’ll take it up. I’ve already taken it up, and we should let these guys know the place we’re coming from. I’ve fought towards some extra harmful navy regimes in Africa, and the truth that I’m alive at the moment.”
Article Web page with Monetary Help Promotion
Presidential Pardon
Moreover, the 66-year-old emphasised that he has by no means accepted fee for facilitating presidential pardons since he started his authorized occupation.
He shared a notable expertise from 2022, recounting how he efficiently secured presidential pardons for six Nigerians out of 20 who had been incarcerated at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
“Within the final 42 years of my authorized observe, I’ve by no means collected a kobo to put in writing a letter of pardon for anyone, and my work on this space just isn’t restricted to Nigeria; the final case of pardon I dealt with was for six Nigerians amongst 20 had been dropped at Kirikiri correctional centre in 2022 and thru a jail trade programme, six of them had been forgotten in jail, a lawyer has taken up their matter professional bono and I travelled from Excessive Courtroom to Supreme Courtroom. When their household got here to me, I studied the case and contacted the human rights physique in Thailand, the place they had been introduced and found they had been pardoned in 2017, however they had been nonetheless in Kirikiri in 2022.
“From there, I contacted our ambassador in Thailand to ahead the instrument to me as a result of he confirmed my findings. He mentioned he couldn’t cross them to me immediately however went by means of the Ministry of Overseas Affairs, and I contacted Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, who was dedicated to defending the rights of Nigerians. He requested what I wished, and I mentioned a replica of the ‘royal pardon’ granted to 6 Nigerians nonetheless in jail; he assured me he’d do the needful, and as quickly as he received the letter, he despatched it to Thailand, and the instrument of pardon was dropped at Nigeria. I wrote a letter to the then Minister of Inside, Rauf Aregbesola. On the day he acquired the letter, he ordered the discharge of the six Nigerians,” he famous.
Mr Falana characterised the allegations made by VeryDarkMan towards him and his son as wholly baseless and unwarranted.
Falz
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) additional clarified that Falz by no means contacted Bobrisky for a presidential pardon, nor did he request N10 million.
He harassed that Falz is an individual of precept and decency who would by no means compromise his values or search monetary assist from anybody in such a fashion.
He famous, “Most of those guys don’t know my son, Falz, although he’s from their technology. He stands out for precept and decency and can by no means exit of his option to fund me. The man (Falz) doesn’t need anyone to know he’s my son; when he began his musical profession, he practising however left the authorized observe the place he was doing very nicely, and he mentioned Daddy, I’m not going to observe however going into the leisure world.
“When he began, he was invited by NTA for an interview, and he was launched as Folarin Falz when he got here again house as a result of he was residing with us then. His mom requested him why he was calling himself Folarin Falz. He requested if he ought to name himself Folarin Falana in order that the title may open for him. He mentioned he didn’t need anyone’s title to open doorways for him however wished his doorways as a result of if he mentioned he was Folarin Falana and the interview was granted, he might need felt as a result of it’s his father’s title. He mentioned, ‘Mum, the day I’ll be completely satisfied is after they ask you should you’re my mom, and so they ask my father if he’s Falz’s dad.’”
Furthermore, he famous that Falz just isn’t the kind who’d name anybody for favours or demand cash in any state of affairs.
He identified that Falz and his siblings constantly refer victims of injustice and human rights abuse to him.
“So he has by no means gone out of his option to introduce himself as Falana’s son. Only recently, I informed him that you just and your sisters despatched individuals to us, and the way in which you’re going, we’ll be sending our invoice to you, and we snigger over it. He can by no means accomplish that as a result of he is aware of it’s not our observe to take cash for pardon. Within the audio, I believe the man was alleged to be saying that Falz had mentioned that my father would assist me write a letter. Nigeria may be very corrupt; we want N10 million, and he didn’t say he’ll give me N10 million within the so-called personal dialogue with anyone.
“Someone else interpreted the recording by saying that he’s dissatisfied that Falana can take N10 million to put in writing a letter of pardon. I used to have respect for him, so it was uncalled for, and should you mentioned I’m your uncle, why don’t you name me and inform me concerning the allegations flying round that’s it true that I collected N10 million to put in writing a letter of pardon?”
This newspaper reported that these allegations have sparked a heated public debate, resulting in important actions reminiscent of suspending senior officers on the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), investigations by the EFCC, and a probe initiated by the Home of Representatives.
Help PREMIUM TIMES’ journalism of integrity and credibility
At Premium Occasions, we firmly consider within the significance of high-quality journalism. Recognizing that not everybody can afford expensive information subscriptions, we’re devoted to delivering meticulously researched, fact-checked information that continues to be freely accessible to all.
Whether or not you flip to Premium Occasions for every day updates, in-depth investigations into urgent nationwide points, or entertaining trending tales, we worth your readership.
It’s important to acknowledge that information manufacturing incurs bills, and we take pleasure in by no means inserting our tales behind a prohibitive paywall.
Would you contemplate supporting us with a modest contribution on a month-to-month foundation to assist keep our dedication to free, accessible information?
Make Contribution
TEXT AD: Name Willie – +2348098788999
