Human rights lawyer and activist Femi Falana has publicly addressed recent allegations connecting him, his son, renowned musician Falz, and controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, to a purported presidential pardon scheme. The accusations surfaced after social media influencer Martins Otse, also known as ‘VeryDarkMan,’ leaked an audio recording on Instagram where Bobrisky claimed that Falana and his son offered to facilitate a presidential pardon for N10 million while Bobrisky was incarcerated at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
In a subsequent interview on Channels TV’s *Politics Today*, Falana emphatically denied the allegations, asserting, “I have never met Bobrisky, and he has never spoken to me.” He clarified that Bobrisky allegedly contacted his son on May 4, requesting N3 million to gain VIP privileges in prison, a request that Falz reportedly declined. Falana recounted that his son advised Bobrisky to communicate through the prison superintendent or via official correspondence.
The controversy has attracted the attention of the House of Representatives, which has initiated an investigation into claims that Bobrisky was granted special treatment during his imprisonment. Falana expressed skepticism about the House’s awareness of such conditions in Nigerian prisons, emphasizing that the Correctional Service Act of 2019 outlines protocols for addressing misconduct among prison officers.
In response to the allegations, the House summoned VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide their accounts. While Bobrisky did not appear before the panel, representatives from the other parties presented their perspectives.
Falana reiterated that neither he nor his son engaged in any financial dealings with Bobrisky regarding a presidential pardon. He noted his long history of securing pardons for convicts without any monetary compensation, highlighting his commitment to justice.
Despite the defamation claims, Falana stated he would not pursue criminal charges against VeryDarkMan, citing his advocacy for freedom of expression. He indicated a preference for civil proceedings to protect the reputations of himself and his son. “This case illustrates how defamatory allegations can spread online without evidence,” he remarked. “We have requested a reasonable apology and retraction; if that is not forthcoming, we will take civil action in the High Court.”
Bobrisky’s legal troubles began with an arrest by the EFCC in April on charges related to money laundering and currency mutilation. Although the money laundering charges were ultimately dismissed, he received a six-month prison sentence for currency abuse.
