Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has denied the claim that he ever spoke to cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, about any alleged pardon or other matters.
In a letter dated September 25, 2024, from his legal team at Falana & Falana’s Chambers and signed by Taiwo E. Olawanle, Esq., the senior lawyer addressed a recent Instagram post made by self-proclaimed activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, claiming that Falana “spoke to Bobrisky in order to divert justice.”
VeryDarkMan also alleged that Falana sought a presidential pardon for Bobrisky in exchange for N10 million.
The letter outlined that these allegations are defamatory and that they accused Falana of engaging in deceitful conduct and undermining his integrity.
His legal counsel argued that the statements were part of a “vicious, wicked and reckless ploy” to damage his reputation and undermine his public standing.
The law firm demanded an immediate retraction and a public apology on all platforms where the allegations were disseminated, asserting that Falana has “never, in his life, spoken to Bobrisky on his alleged pardon or on any matter whatsoever.”
The law firm warned that if their demands are not met within 24 hours, it would seek legal remedies, including monetary damages. The letter emphasized the importance of credible and factual reporting, particularly concerning respected figures like Femi Falana.
The statement reads in part, “We are Counsel to Mr Femi Falana SAN (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) on whose behalf we write this letter regarding your publication and dissemination of defamatory statements against him.
“Your publication of September 25, 2024, on your Instagram page captioned “In everything and everyone that is mentioned here, I will be disappointed if truly FALZ and his father are involved in this whole Bobrisky issue… refers.
“In publishing the statement on several online platforms, you informed your large viewership that Mr Femi Falana “spoke to Bobrisky in order to divert justice”.
“Your publication contained multiple allegations and that you did not expect Mr Femi Falana, who was a lawyer to the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, whom everyone respects to “engage in something like this?”.
“Your publication further alleged that Mr Femi Falana SAN wanted to get a presidential pardon for Bobrisky for the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten million naira only).
“As if that was not enough, you proceeded to state as follows:
“I don’t even believe that Femi Falana would bring himself down to this level, the whole Femi Falana would engage himself with something like this”
“…the man started the pardon and he said he wanted to send it to the Minister of Justice in Abuja who will send it to the president to approve it but you know Nigeria with corruption.”
“…Femi FALANA collected N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) in order to wipe his name of record. These are people I respected. These are people I look up to…it is obvious that Nigeria will not go anywhere soon.
“The direct meaning of the imputation, and/or innuendo contained in the false, misleading and defamatory statements is that:
“1. Mr Femi Falana is deceitful and that his motivation for fighting against injustice and corruption in Nigeria and the entire Africa is a ruse.
“2. Mr Femi Falana spoke to Bobrisky to divert justice with a view to perverting justice for financial gains and material benefits.
3. Mr. Femi Falana solicited a brief from Bobrisky and thereby contravened the Legal Practitioner Rules of Professional Conduct.
4. Mr Femi Falana has participated in a device that constitutes subterfuge in concert with others who you also characterized as corrupt.
5. Mr Falana’s fight against injustice is inconsistent with his publicly acclaimed and validated record of competence, honesty and integrity.
6. Mr Falana who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria has engaged in conduct that is incompatible with his profession role and duty as a legal practitioner in Nigeria.
“The entire publication was a vicious, wicked and reckless ploy to impugn the reputation of our client and lower him in the estimation of right- thinking members of the public.
“WE WISH TO STATE, WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF CONTRADICTION, THAT OUR CLIENT HAS NEVER, IN HIS LIFE, SPOKEN TO BOBRISKY ON HIS ALLEGED PARDON OR ON ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER.”
