Self-proclaimed activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has strongly denied allegations of defamation made by prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana and his son, Nigerian rapper Falz. This controversy stems from VeryDarkMan’s comments suggesting that the two had a hand in securing a lenient outcome for Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, following his conviction.The backstory revolves around Bobrisky’s arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for naira mutilation, a crime for which he received a three-month jail sentence. Following his release on August 5, 2024, rumors began to surface alleging that Falana and Falz had intervened to prevent more severe charges, such as money laundering, from being pursued by the EFCC.On September 24, 2024, VeryDarkMan shared an alleged leaked voice recording of Bobrisky. In this recording, Bobrisky purportedly claimed that Femi Falana and Falz played significant roles in helping him evade more serious charges. This revelation set the stage for a fiery confrontation.Reacting swiftly, both Falana and Falz, through their legal representation at Falana and Falana’s Chambers, issued a stern response. They categorically denied any involvement in Bobrisky’s case and demanded a public retraction of the statements made by VeryDarkMan. Additionally, they called for an apology to be published across all platforms within 24 hours.However, VeryDarkMan stood his ground. In a video response shared on his social media pages, the activist rejected the accusation of defamation. He clarified that his remarks were based solely on Bobrisky’s leaked call and that he had no intention of slandering either Falana or Falz.“I never defamed Uncle Femi Falana, and I’ll never do so. Uncle Femi Falana is someone I deeply respect,” VeryDarkMan stated, explaining that his respect for the lawyer was rooted in his long-standing fight for justice and advocacy for the oppressed. “All I did was react to the content of Bobrisky’s call, where he claimed that Falz connected him to Uncle Femi Falana.”The activist went on to explain that while he could have edited out the portion of the audio where Bobrisky mentioned Falz, he chose not to. He emphasized his desire for a thorough investigation into the matter, expressing disappointment if the allegations against Falana and Falz turned out to be true.
