Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer and activist, has publicly addressed the allegations concerning a purported ‘presidential pardon’ involving himself, his son, the well-known musician Falz, and the contentious figure Idris Okuneye, commonly referred to as Bobrisky.
In September, PREMIUM TIMES indicated that social media influencer Martins Otse, widely recognised as ‘VeryDarkMan‘, disseminated a leaked audio recording of Bobrisky on Instagram.
In the audio, Bobrisky alleged that Mr. Falana and his son proposed to facilitate a presidential pardon in return for N10 million during Bobrisky’s time at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
Falz addressed the allegations, requiring an apology and a retraction from VeryDarkMan within a 24-hour timeframe.
In an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today with Seun Okinbaloye, Mr. Falana categorically refuted any association, asserting, “I have never met Bobrisky, and he has never spoken to me.” There have been claims that he reached out to my son, Falz. My son reported that Bobrisky contacted him on May 4, seeking a transfer of N3 million for the purpose of acquiring VIP privileges in prison.
Falana noted that his son declined to provide assistance to Bobrisky, stating, “My son informed him that any further communication should be directed through the prison superintendent or via an official letter, and that was the last instance of contact.”
Regarding the recent decision by the House of Representatives to investigate allegations that Bobrisky was accommodated in a VIP section of the prison, Mr. Falana conveyed his astonishment, noting it is difficult to accept that the House was not aware of the presence of such facilities within Nigerian prisons.
The Correctional Service Act of 2019 includes specific provisions addressing misconduct among prison officers.
Reports have shown that the House has called upon VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to respond to the allegations presented. Although Bobrisky was absent from the panel, the remaining participants were in attendance and provided their insights.
Mr. Falana refuted allegations regarding his son’s involvement in negotiating a N10 million arrangement with Bobrisky for a presidential pardon, emphasising that he has successfully obtained pardons for numerous convicts without soliciting any form of compensation.
He elaborated on his choice to refrain from filing a criminal complaint against VeryDarkMan, emphasising his support for freedom of expression. “I have refrained from filing a criminal complaint as I oversee a team of West African lawyers advocating for the decriminalisation of freedom of expression,” he stated, noting that civil proceedings will be initiated to safeguard the reputations of both himself and his son.
Mr. Falana assessed the impact of social media on the dissemination of misinformation, stating, “This case exemplifies the manner in which individuals propagate defamatory claims online in the absence of supporting evidence.” We have formally requested an apology and a retraction, which is a reasonable course of action. However, in the absence of a response, we will proceed with civil litigation in the High Court.
In April, Bobrisky faced arrest by the EFCC, with allegations centred around money laundering and the mutilation of Naira. Although the charges related to money laundering were dropped, Bobrisky received a six-month prison sentence for the misuse of Naira.