Femi Falana, a renowned human rights lawyer, has categorically refuted claims of collaboration with crossdresser Bobrisky, which were made by social media critic Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
The scandal started when VeryDarkMan posted a viral video stating that unidentified EFCC personnel took ₦15 million from Bobrisky to dismiss money laundering charges against him. Furthermore, he said that Falana sought a presidential pardon for Bobrisky and requested N10 million to expedite the process.
Falana answered the charges on Channels Television’s Politics Today, claiming that Bobrisky never communicated with him and that he has no idea who the crossdresser is.
Bobrisky asked his son, Folarin Falz, for ₦3 million to get a VIP section in jail. However, Falz rejected, recommending Bobrisky to go through the regular procedures with the jail officials.
Falana emphasised that his son has never bargained on behalf of anybody, and that his children usually direct people in need to him. Despite the charges, Falana has decided not to file a criminal complaint, citing his leadership in the movement to decriminalise free speech in West Africa.
Instead, Falana intends to take legal action to restore his and his son’s integrity.
In his words:
“Bobrisky never spoke to me, I have never met him, I don’t know him from Adam. He was alleged to have spoken to my son, Folarin, Falz. My son said this guy was appealing to him for assistance, and called my son, please, can you give me N3m to be placed in a special part of the prison, we call it VIP section, and my son asked me, are you calling me under the authorization of the superintendent of prisons, he said no, please don’t call me again. I’m unable to assist you to bribe the prison authorities, and please be careful since you are already in jail for an offence, and if you are going to call me next time, you can either do it through the superintendent or write a letter endorsed by the prison authorities, and that was the last.
“Somebody now said that he listened to a tape somewhere and went out to lampoon however defame me. My son has never negotiated fix on behalf of anybody. On the contrary, my three children normally refer people who need assistance to me.
“Now what I am going to do: I have resisted the temptation to file a criminal complaint because I am leading a team of lawyers in west Africa, campaigning for decriminalization of freedom of expression. In this case, we are not going to file a criminal complaint, we won’t be pushed to do that. What we will do is embark on civil proceedings with a view to restoring our integrity, my own name and that of my son.”
Watch the video below:
