Controversial self-acclaimed activist, Martins Vincent Otse popularly known as VeryDarkMan has denied claims that he made a defamatory statement against the human rights lawyer, Femi Falana.
Gatekeepers News reports that VeryDarkMan recently took to social media to share a purported audio conversation wherein the popular crossdresser turned transgender, Bobrisky said that Femi Falana and his son, Falz contacted her.
In the recording, Bobrisky alleged that she spoke with Falz in prison and that the rapper and his dad tried to get her a presidential pardon in exchange for N10 million naira.
Responding to the allegation on Wednesday, Falana however described it as a “vicious and reckless” attempt to “impugn my reputation”.
The lawyer issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the activist to retract his statement “to avoid legal remedies”.
Reacting to the ultimatum, VeryDarkMan, through his legal counsel, Deji Adeyanju denied making a defamatory statement against the lawyer.
The activist noted that he released the voice recordings to prompt a thorough investigation into Bobrisky’s allegations, not to defame Falana.
VDM added that he holds Falana in high esteem for his human rights activism in Nigeria and believes an investigation is necessary instead of pursuing defamation charges.
The letter goes, “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.”
“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 further said that Falana is his go-to person when in trouble, adding that he added the lawyer to his emergency contact.
The activist reiterated that he only said he would be disappointed if Falana were involved in the allegations.
He said in an Instagram video, “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.”
“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.”
The Nigerian rapper, Falz also demanded a retraction from VeryDarkMan.
VeryDarkMan responded by saying he did not defame him and that he is ready to appear in court.
