Nigerian rapper and activist, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has confirmed his communication with social media personality Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, regarding legal challenges Bobrisky faced earlier in the year.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Falz revealed that Bobrisky had requested ₦3 million to secure a place in the VIP section of a correctional facility.
This clarification comes after Falz’s legal representatives, Falana & Falana Chambers, issued a letter demanding a retraction from Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, who allegedly made defamatory claims against the rapper.
The letter, dated September 26, 2024, addressed accusations that Falz had conspired with Bobrisky to obstruct justice by providing financial aid to secure a favorable legal outcome.
Falz’s lawyer, Taiwo E. Olawanle, clarified that although Bobrisky did reach out to Falz, the rapper declined to offer financial assistance, emphasizing that no payment was necessary for legal support.
The letter stated, “We have come across your Instagram post dated September 25, 2024, in which you made several defamatory statements implying that Falz and his father were involved in Bobrisky’s legal situation.”
“To clarify, our client did not initiate any communication with Mr. Idris Okuneye. It was Mr. Okuneye who reached out to our client.”
“On May 4, 2024, Mr. Okuneye (Bobrisky) contacted our client, requesting a phone conversation. Believing that Bobrisky might require legal advice due to the charges he was facing, our client agreed to speak with him.”
“However, instead of asking for legal counsel, Mr. Okuneye requested ₦3 million, claiming it was needed to pay officials to secure a place in the VIP section of the Correctional Centre.”
The letter also noted that Falz had advised Bobrisky against paying any officials and declined the request for financial assistance. Bobrisky had expressed dissatisfaction with his legal team, accusing them of mishandling his case by advising him to plead guilty, but Falz remained firm in rejecting the financial request.
The letter further stated, “Without verifying the facts, you made reckless allegations, including insinuations that our client was involved in a homosexual affair and was attempting to secure a presidential pardon for Mr. Okuneye.”
Falana & Falana Chambers demanded an immediate retraction of the false claims and a public apology across all platforms where the accusations had been made. They warned that failure to comply within 24 hours would result in legal action, including a claim for damages to Falz’s reputation.
