Nigerians React as Falana Addresses Bobrisky vs. VeryDarkMan ₦10m Bribery Allegation
Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has responded to allegations involving a ₦10 million bribe linked to crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky. The allegation was first made by social media personality Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, who accused Falana of seeking a presidential pardon for Bobrisky in exchange for the sum.
In a recent interview on Channels TV, Falana dismissed the claim as “infantile radicalism,” asserting that many Nigerians, particularly young people, do not fully grasp the legal implications of defamation. He emphasized that such accusations could lead to unnecessary embarrassment.
VeryDarkMan had previously alleged that Bobrisky bribed unnamed officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with ₦15 million to dismiss money laundering charges against him. He also claimed that Falana was involved in negotiating a presidential pardon for the controversial figure.
Falana’s comments have sparked a wide range of reactions online. Some Nigerians criticized the lawyer’s response, while others expressed concern over the growing trend of defamation on social media. One user commented, “Powerful people are bypassing the law in this country,” while another noted that “the lack of understanding around defamation is leading to baseless accusations.”
Despite the mixed reactions, Falana maintained that the law must be understood and respected, particularly when it comes to issues of public defamation.
