By Odekola Deborah |
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has demanded that controversial social media figure Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), apologise and retract allegations made against him and his son, Falz.
This comes in response to an audio recording released by VDM, in which Bobrisky claimed that Falz and his father helped dismiss money laundering charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday, Falana criticised what he described as “infantile radicalism” among some young Nigerians, stating that they often make unfounded accusations without understanding the law on defamation.
He emphasised, “I have assisted 280 convicted individuals both at home and abroad to secure pardons. In one instance, I petitioned the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on behalf of 200 Nigerians wrongfully convicted in Libya due to language barriers during their trials. Our intervention led to a provisional order preventing their execution.”
Falana clarified that he has never met Bobrisky and does not know him personally.
He recounted a conversation his son had with Bobrisky, who had asked for financial help to secure a “VIP” prison section.
Falz responded that he could not assist with bribing prison officials and instructed him to communicate through proper channels.
“I have never negotiated fees on behalf of anyone,” Falana continued.
“My children often refer individuals needing assistance to me. Recently, my wife joked about why we keep helping people who can’t pay our fees.”
While Falana has chosen not to file criminal complaints, he stated that he leads a West African campaign advocating for the decriminalization of free speech.
He noted that although freedom of expression is essential, it should not be a shield for defamation.
“We are prepared to take civil action to restore our integrity. We expect a retraction and an apology, and if these demands are not met, we will initiate proceedings in the High Court.”
As a former inmate and a long-time advocate for prison reform, Falana highlighted the need for transparency in Nigeria’s correctional facilities. He noted that there are indeed VIP sections within these centers, often referred to as the “White House,” where influential individuals receive special treatment.
“The Correctional Services Act of 2019 aims to curb the excesses of prison officials,” he added, urging greater accountability in the system.
