LAGOS, Nigeria (ChatnewsTV) — Nigerian rapper and activist Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has demanded a formal retraction and apology from an Instagram user, Martins Vincent Otse popularly known as VeryDarkMan, over allegations of his involvement in a high-profile controversy surrounding Nigerian social media influencer Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky. The accusations were reportedly made on Otse’s Instagram page on September 25, 2024.
In a letter dated September 26, 2024, Falz’s legal representatives, Falana & Falana’s Chambers, addressed Otse, insisting that the allegations made against Falz are defamatory and misleading. The law firm, headed by renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, expressed concern over a statement Otse shared, insinuating that Falz and his father were complicit in Bobrisky’s legal issues and possibly involved in securing a presidential pardon for the internet personality.
“To set the records straight, our client never at any point initiated a conversation with Mr. Idris Okuneye. Our client has documentary evidence that Mr. Idris was in fact the one who initiated a call,” the letter clarified.
The letter also detailed the nature of the allegations, which implied that Falz was participating in corrupt activities and undermining the integrity of the justice system in favor of financial gain. It further emphasized that these claims were not only baseless but had the potential to damage Falz’s reputation as a human rights activist.
“The entire publication was a vicious, wicked, and reckless ploy to impugn the reputation of our client and lower him in the estimation of right-thinking members of the public,” the letter stated.
Falz’s legal team has given Otse 24 hours to retract the statements and issue a public apology, failing which they threatened legal action. The rapper’s team has warned that they will seek “appropriate legal remedies, including monetary damages” if their demands are not met promptly.
