“I Didn’t Defame You”: VeryDarkMan Responds to Falana, Calls for Investigation

Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has officially responded to the defamation allegations made by renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN. Through his legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, Otse denied the claim that he defamed Falana and clarified that his intention was to prompt an investigation into the serious allegations raised in a recent viral audio involving Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky.

In a letter dated September 25, 2024, Otse’s legal team acknowledged receipt of Falana’s earlier demand for a retraction and apology over an Instagram post containing a voice recording between Bobrisky and a third party. Falana had described the post as “vicious, wicked, and reckless,” accusing Otse of attempting to damage his reputation by alleging that Falana sought a N10 million presidential pardon for Bobrisky.

However, Otse’s legal counsel refuted these claims, asserting that their client had no intention of defaming Falana, who is widely respected as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a global human rights activist. Instead, they argued that Otse’s post was made in good faith, with the aim of encouraging a thorough investigation into the allegations raised by Bobrisky in the recording.

“Our client denies defaming Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, and instead asserts that he only published the said communication to encourage the relevant agencies, and even your client, to initiate a thorough investigation into the far-reaching allegations made by Mr. Okuneye,” the letter stated.

Otse’s legal team further highlighted that their client holds Falana in high esteem and recognizes his longstanding commitment to human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria. Given the gravity of the allegations in the audio, Otse believes that an interagency investigation, rather than a defamation suit, would be the most appropriate course of action.

The response letter also referenced a statement made by Folarin Falana, which Otse’s legal team claims corroborates some elements of the voice recording. This, they argue, further justifies the need for a formal investigation into the matter.

This exchange comes amid ongoing public interest surrounding Bobrisky’s legal battles, including his recent denial of bribery allegations involving officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).