N15m Bribery: ‘I’ve never spoken to Bobrisky, I’m surprised at House of Reps’

Human rights activist and lawyer Femi Falana has addressed the allegations surrounding the ‘presidential pardon’ involving himself, controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also called Bobrisky, and his son, Falz, for the primary time.

In September, PREMIUM TIMES reported that social media influencer Martins ‘VeryDarkMan’ Otse posted a leaked audio of Bobrisky on his Instagram web page whereby the crossdresser indicted Mr Falana and his son.

Within the leaked audio, Bobrisky alleged that Mr Falana and his son contacted him whereas he was imprisoned at Kirikiri Correctional Centre to assist him safe a presidential pardon if he (Bobrisky) paid him (Mr Falana) N10 million.

Falz responded to the allegations, demanding an apology and retraction from VeryDarkMan inside 24 hours.

Addressing the allegations throughout an interview on Channels TV Politics Right this moment with Seun Okinbaloye on Thursday, Mr Falana denied ever contacting Bobrisky.

He acknowledged: “I’ve by no means met Bobrisky, and he has by no means spoken to me. It’s been alleged that he contacted my son, Falz. My son informed me Bobrisky reached out to him on 4 Could, asking for N3 million to be positioned in a VIP part of the jail, the place he was looking for particular lodging.

“My son requested him if he was calling underneath the authorisation of the jail superintendent, and he stated no. My son informed him to not name once more, as he wouldn’t help in bribing jail authorities. He additionally warned him to be cautious, reminding him that he was already in jail for an offence. My son stated, ‘Please if you must contact me once more, accomplish that by means of the Superintendent or with a letter endorsed by the jail authority. And that was the final.’”

Enter Home of Rep

Mr Falana expressed his considerations and shock on the Home of Representatives’ resolution to ascertain a committee to research allegations that Bobrisky served his jail time period within the VIP part of the jail.

He added that it was laborious to consider the Home is feigning ignorance of the existence of VIP sections in Nigerian prisons.

This newspaper reported that the Home of Representatives summoned VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), and the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) relating to the allegations.

Whereas Bobrisky was absent from the panel session, the opposite events attended and supplied their accounts of the occasions.

‘I’m stunned that the Home of Representatives is pretending to be unaware that there’s a VIP in jail, they usually proceeded to arrange a panel to evaluate the state of our correctional centres. The Correctional Service Act of 2019 has made provisions for addressing the misconduct of jail officers”, he stated.

Legal grievance

Mr Falana additionally refuted claims that Falz negotiated a N10 million cost with Bobrisky for a presidential pardon, emphasising that he secured pardons for quite a few convicts with out costs.

Moreover, he acknowledged that he wouldn’t pursue a legal grievance towards VeryDarkMan, acknowledging his position as an advocate for freedom of expression.

He stated, “That is what I’m going to do. I’ve resisted the temptation to file a legal grievance as a result of I lead a group of West African legal professionals campaigning for decriminalising freedom of expression. We’ve got efficiently coordinated this marketing campaign, which is being coordinated by the Media Basis for West Africa, of which I’m a board member. We’ve got achieved this in Liberia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, and we’re nonetheless interesting to different nations on the continent to do the identical.

“However this doesn’t grant a license for defaming or blackmailing others. We’re saying that if somebody defames you, it is best to sue for libel. On this case, we is not going to file a legal grievance; we gained’t be pressured. As a substitute, we are going to pursue civil proceedings to revive our integrity, my title, and that of my son, in order that nobody will recklessly rush to social media to defame any Nigerian.”

He emphasised that the VeryDarkMan case is an instance of social media customers spreading false allegations and defaming others with out proof.

READ ALSO: N15m Bribery: VeryDarkMan didn’t defame Femi Falana- Deji Adeyanju

“We wish to set an instance with this case. We’ve got requested a retraction and an apology, which we consider isn’t an excessive amount of to ask. Since neither has been supplied or accepted, we anticipate him to provoke civil proceedings within the Excessive Court docket”, he added.

In April, the EFCC arrested Bobrisky and charged him with six counts of cash laundering and Naira mutilation.

Throughout his trial on the Federal Excessive Court docket in Lagos, Choose Abimbola Awogboro dismissed the cash laundering costs (counts 5 and 6) however sentenced him to 6 months in jail for Naira abuse.