Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana has issued a warning to popular crossdresser Bobrisky, demanding a public retraction and apology over defamatory allegations.
Falana through his legal team, Olorunfemi Akinyemi and Taiwo E. Olawanle, accused Bobrisky of spreading false claims that Falana requested N10 million to secure a presidential pardon following his recent imprisonment.
Bobrisky alleged in online audios that he paid N5 million to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to secure the pardon, claiming Falana was involved in the bribe. However, Falana’s team deemed these claims baseless and damaging to his reputation. They demanded a full retraction and apology, to be published on all platforms where the statements were made.
Bobrisky also attempted to solicit N3 million from Falz, claiming Falana promised to secure special accommodation at Kirikiri Correctional Centre. Falana’s team denied any such conversation took place, stating Bobrisky’s claims aimed to extort money from the public while tarnishing Falana’s professional standing.
Falana’s lawyers warned Bobrisky to comply within 12 hours of receiving the letter or face legal action, including monetary damages.
The letter reads, “We are Counsel to Mr. Femi Falana SAN (hereinafter referred to as “our client) on whose behalf we write this letter regarding your slanderous statement against him.
“We have confirmed that you took advantage of your recent imprisonment to extort money from a group of artists and other members of the public. You would recall that you called Mr. Falarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, on May 4, 2024, and requested him to assist you with the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira) to secure a special place in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
“Even though Falz turned down your request you were quoted in a video to have said that he informed you that his father, our client, had undertaken to write a letter of pardon for you. You also said that our client had spoken to you and that the sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) would be needed to bribe officials who would process the application for your pardon.”
“In another video, you claimed that you had paid N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) upfront to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in an attempt to secure a Federal Government pardon over the charges filed against you by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“You also claimed that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria had initially requested N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) for his legal services but that you explained to him that you were unable to raise the full amount as your account had been frozen by the EFCC.”
It added, “In fact, you have since published a list of persons who believed your concocted story and donated millions of Naira to pay our client to write a letter of pardon and bribe some unnamed public officers on your behalf.
“Your decision to involve our client in the criminal enterprise was a figment of your fertile imagination.
“Contrary to your spurious claims, you never briefed our client to write a letter of pardon for you,” the letter reads.
“You will agree with us that you made all these defamatory statements in a reckless manner when you knew that you did not call our client on the phone to instruct him to write a letter of pardon on your behalf. Our client has NEVER spoken to you on your pardon or any subject whatsoever.”
The statement continues, “Having regard to the fact that our client has secured pardon for not less than 300 Nigerians convicted by military and civilian courts in Nigeria, Libya, Thailand and The Gambia on a pro bono basis, your defamatory statements have severely damaged his reputation at home and abroad.
“We, therefore, demand the immediate retraction of the defamatory and derogatory statements as well as an apology prominently aired or published on all the platforms to which you have disseminated the offensive statement without any justification whatsoever.
“Be advised that if we do not receive your formal retraction and apology as demanded within 12 (twelve) hours of the receipt hereof, we shall proceed with our client’s instructions to seek appropriate legal remedies, including monetary damages, against you for your incendiary defamatory statements.
“We hope that the salient issues raised herein will urgently be addressed by you in your own interest,” they added.
