In view of the allegations made by Martins Vincent Otse, aka Very Dark Man, VDM, in his social media post on Tuesday against human rights activist Femi Falana (SAN), the renowned lawyer has given VeryDarkMan, 24 hours to “retract his offensive and derogatory publication” against him or face legal action.
This was stated in a letter from Falana’s legal counsel, Taiwo E. Olawanle, on Wednesday.
In his social media post that went viral, VeryDarkMan’s had during a purported interview with Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky, the cross dresser, alleged that Falana demanded N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) from Bobrisky, in order to expunge his name from the records of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Describing the claims by VeryDarkMan’s as malicious, with the intent of damaging Falana’s well earned reputation, Olawanle demanded a public apology and a retraction of the statement within 24 hours.
Olawanle said that Falana has never spoken to Bobrisky regarding any alleged pardon or any other matter.
Olawanle said that while he recognises that freedom of expression is a fundamental rights of all, he advised that such rights must be exercised with caution.
He said, “We, therefore, demand immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication as well as an apology prominently published in 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.
“We hope that the salient issue raised herein will urgently be addressed by you in your own interest,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, VeryDarkman accused Bobrisky of failing to repay a debt of N4 million.
To support his claims, he leaked a video recording that purportedly reveals how the cross-dresser navigated his six-month jail term in April.
According to VeryDarkman, Bobrisky allegedly bribed EFCC officers with N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him.
In the same video, VeryDarkman alleged that Bobrisky paid N10 million to Falz (Folarin Falana) and his father (Femi Falana) to intercede on his behalf and plead for a pardon.
Following these allegations, the EFCC has launched an investigation into claims that some of its officers accepted N15 million from Bobrisky to dismiss the money laundering charges against him.
The inquiry, directed by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, comes in light of a viral audio recording in which Bobrisky, an ex-convict, made these allegations.
With additional reports from Sahara Reporters