Popular Nigerian rapper and activist Folarin Falana, better known as Falz, has confirmed his contact with social media personality Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, regarding legal issues Bobrisky faced earlier this year. However, Falz has denied any wrongdoing or financial assistance related to Bobrisky’s alleged VIP treatment at a correctional facility.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Falz’s legal team, Falana & Falana Chambers, demanded that social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, retract defamatory claims that linked Falz to Bobrisky’s legal troubles. These allegations arose after VeryDarkMan posted on Instagram, suggesting that Falz had conspired with Bobrisky to pervert the course of justice by providing financial help.
The controversy centers on Bobrisky’s alleged request for N3 million to secure a VIP section at the correctional center where he was detained. In a letter dated September 26, 2024, Falz’s lawyer, Taiwo E. Olawanle, explained the sequence of events. According to the letter, Bobrisky initiated contact with Falz on May 4, 2024, requesting a phone conversation regarding his legal situation. During this conversation, Bobrisky allegedly asked for N3 million to pay officials at the correctional center, claiming it would grant him VIP treatment.
Falz reportedly declined the request, advising Bobrisky that such payments were unnecessary and unethical. Bobrisky persisted, expressing frustration that his lawyers had advised him to plead guilty, which complicated his case. Despite Bobrisky’s insistence, Falz maintained his refusal to provide financial assistance.
In the letter, Falz’s legal team refuted claims made by VeryDarkMan, particularly insinuations that Falz had participated in corrupt activities or was involved in a homosexual affair with Bobrisky. The letter emphasized that Falz never initiated contact with Bobrisky and that the accusations were both false and damaging to Falz’s reputation.
Falana & Falana Chambers demanded an immediate public retraction of the defamatory statements and an apology across all platforms where the allegations were made. The letter warned that failure to comply within 24 hours would result in legal action, including a claim for monetary damages to address the harm caused.
This legal dispute follows another viral video in which VeryDarkMan alleged that unnamed EFCC officials had collected ₦15 million from Bobrisky to drop money laundering charges. Bobrisky has since denied the bribery allegations, and EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede has ordered an investigation into the matter.