Prominent lawyer and human rights advocate Femi Falana (SAN) has given activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, a 24-hour deadline to retract an alleged defamatory post or face legal action.
This warning came in a letter from Falana & Falana Chambers, demanding an immediate retraction and apology for claims made in an Instagram post dated September 25, 2024.
The post accused Falana of trying to secure a presidential pardon for the crossdresser Bobrisky in exchange for N10,000,000. It alleged that Falana had spoken to Bobrisky to “divert justice” and seek the pardon, implicating both him and his son, Folarin Falana (FALZ), in a scandal involving Bobrisky.
The letter characterized these accusations as “vicious, wicked, and reckless,” aiming to damage Falana’s respected reputation. It emphasized that Falana has never communicated with Bobrisky about any issue, let alone sought a presidential pardon.
The letter also rejected the claims as “false, misleading, and defamatory,” arguing they misrepresented Falana’s long-standing commitment to fighting injustice and corruption. The assertions suggested that Falana’s advocacy was motivated by personal financial interests, which would breach the Legal Practitioner Rules of Professional Conduct.
While acknowledging VeryDarkMan’s right to free expression under Nigerian law, Falana & Falana Chambers insisted he must ensure the accuracy of his statements. They demanded a prompt retraction and public apology across all platforms where the false claims were made.
If the retraction and apology are not issued within 24 hours, the Chambers warned that they would pursue legal action for monetary damages.
The letter concluded by urging VeryDarkMan to address the matter quickly to prevent further legal repercussions.
