Controversial activist Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, has refuted allegations that he disseminated a defamatory statement regarding human rights attorney Femi Falana and his son, Falz.
On Tuesday, VeryDarkMan posted a video featuring Bobrisky, who alleged that she bribed certain EFCC officials with N15,000,000 to have money laundering charges against her dismissed.
In response, the EFCC summoned both VeryDarkMan and Bobrisky to address the bribery accusations involving its officials.
Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the EFCC, has initiated an immediate inquiry into these claims.
However, on Wednesday, Bobrisky labeled the widely circulated recording as “fake,” asserting that she did not pay any sum to the anti-corruption agency.
Bobrisky also maintained that she completed her prison sentence.
In a related development, rapper Falz seemed to corroborate part of VeryDarkMan’s assertions in a letter directed at the activist.
In his correspondence demanding a retraction of the allegations, Falz stated that Bobrisky had contacted him seeking financial help of “N3 million to secure a VIP section in prison,” which he refused.
In response, VeryDarkMan, through his legal counsel Deji Adeyanju, denied making any defamatory statements against the human rights lawyer.
The activist clarified that the release of the voice recordings aimed to instigate a comprehensive investigation into Bobrisky’s claims, rather than to defame Falana.
He emphasized his respect for Falana’s contributions to human rights advocacy in Nigeria and expressed the belief that an investigation is warranted instead of pursuing defamation claims.
“Our client denies defaming Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, a renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and globally recognised human rights activist, but asserts that he only published the said communication with a view to getting the relevant agencies, and even your client, to initiate a thorough investigation into the far-reaching allegations made by Mr. Okuneye in the said voice recording, especially as some element of the voice recording has been confirmed by Mr. Folarin Falana in his solicitor’s letter of September 25, 2024,” the letter reads in part.
“Our client holds Mr. Femi Falana, SAN in very high esteem and recognises his commitment to the protection of human rights and rule of law in Nigeria. It is in the light of the foregoing that our client believes that the appropriate line of action in the circumstance is an interagency investigation into the allegations contained in the voice recording, rather than pursuing a case of defamation.”
VeryDarkMan revealed that Falana is his primary contact for assistance during difficult times, stating, "he is my emergency contact."
He emphasized that his comments were solely about his disappointment should Falana be implicated in the allegations.
“I only reacted to the call Bobrisky made in which he made allegations that he alleged that Uncle Femi Falana and Falz collected N10 million. And what I said is I choose not to believe that Uncle Femi Falana is associated with that and if, I would be disappointed because of his position in society,” he said in an Instagram video.
“I had an option of cutting the video where he mentioned Falz, but I refused because I wanted a thorough investigation into the matter. I have another one to post. That is from a totally different person. The EFCC was named, and the comptroller general was named.
“If Bobrisky was lying, he should face the law for using somebody as big as uncle Femi Falana to do something like that. Uncle Femi Falana is my emergency contact if a big person with influence holds me.”
Falz has also requested a retraction from VeryDarkMan. In response, VeryDarkMan contended that he did not slander the rapper and expressed his willingness to appear in court.