Controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has responded to the 12-hour ultimatum issued by renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana and his son, singer Falz, over alleged defamatory claims made against them.
The ultimatum, delivered in a cease-and-desist letter on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, demanded that Bobrisky retract statements allegedly made in an audio leaked by popular social media critic VeryDarkMan (VDM).
In the leaked audio, Bobrisky is accused of claiming that Falana and Falz sought his help in securing a presidential pardon for a N10 million fee.
In a series of posts shared on his Instagram Story on Wednesday night, Bobrisky denied the defamation allegations and rejected the demand for a public retraction or apology.
“In reply to the two letters in circulation from the law firm of the Falanas’, I like to state for the record and pending the official reply from my counsel, state for the avoidance of doubt that I, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, aka Bobrisky, did not publish any defamatory statements concerning the learned SAN, Falana and his son Falz,” Bobrisky stated.
He further distanced himself from the leaked audio, reiterating that he had no knowledge of the defamatory content shared by VDM.
“I stand by my express denial and advise whoever has been defamed to hold the publisher of the defamatory content. My fundamental rights to privacy of communications should be respected and protected,” he added.
The controversy erupted after VeryDarkMan leaked the audio recordings in September 2024, where Bobrisky allegedly recounted how Falz contacted him while in jail to facilitate a presidential pardon with the help of his father. The allegations have been widely circulated, generating significant attention on social media.
Bobrisky’s response comes just days after the Lagos State High Court ordered VeryDarkMan to delete all defamatory videos and comments targeting Falana and Falz within 21 days.
The original accusations also included claims of a N15 million bribe allegedly paid to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to drop money laundering charges against Bobrisky, as well as alleged bribes to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to secure VIP custody for him during his imprisonment.
Bobrisky was arrested in April 2024 by the EFCC on charges of money laundering and Naira mutilation.
While the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed the money laundering charges, Judge Abimbola Awogboro sentenced him to six months imprisonment for Naira mutilation.
