Mr Femi Falana (SAN) through Falana & Falana Chambers, secured bail for social media influencer and blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, following his arrest on June 30, 2024, Frontline News Online has learnt.
The respected lawyer’s chambers provided legal aide to Otse, also known as VDM in the case against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, according to Sahara Reporters.
The controversial who may also face a civil suit from the Falanas over his claims that they demanded N10 million from Crossdresser, Idris Okuneye (Bobrisky) to help get presidential pardon, was arrested for alleged criminal defamation stemming from a social media post.
Mr Femi Falana (SAN) through Falana & Falana Chambers, secured bail for social media influencer and blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, following his arrest on June 30, 2024, Frontline News Online has learnt.
The respected lawyer’s chambers provided legal aide to Otse, also known as VDM in the case against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, according to Sahara Reporters.
The controversial who may also face a civil suit from the Falanas over his claims that they demanded N10 million from Crossdresser, Idris Okuneye (Bobrisky) to help get presidential pardon, was arrested for alleged criminal defamation stemming from a social media post.
Court documents regarding the case (Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/149/2024), indicate that the 29-year-old is accused of cyberstalking music producer, Samuel Oguachuba, best known as Samklef, by posting threatening comments on his Instagram handle, which were widely viewed and circulated online.
The post reportedly included intimidating remarks that could instill fear of violence or bodily harm to Samklef.
The online news platform quotes a source at the Femi & Falana Chambers as saying that the law firm didn’t charge VeryDarkMan for their legal assistance, despite expending resources to ensure his defence.
The source further explained that the law firm twice intervened on behalf of VeryDarkMan without payment, reaffirming its commitment to providing pro bono legal support to those in need.
“Marshal Abubakar of Falana & Falana’s Chambers led Deji Adeyanju of Deji Adeyanju & Co. in Vincent Otse’s criminal trial in charge no FHC/ABJ/CR/149/2024 between IGP and Martin Vincent Otse. Falana helped to secure and perfect his bail pro bono,” the source was quoted as said.
“On Sunday, June 30, 2024, Vincent Otse was arrested again over another case of criminal defamation and our firm was actively involved in securing his release from police custody pro bono. Our firm has never charged nor taken a kobo from the defendant for any of these cases but have expended resources for his assistance pro bono”, the source added.
Falana Threatens Civil Suit
Founder of Femi &Falana Chambers Femi Falana, told Channels TV in an interview that VeryDarkMan, defamed him by saying that his son Folarin Falana, Aka, Falz spoke with Bobrisky, promising to get him a presidential pardon for N10 million.
In a viral audio posted by VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky had alleged that he bribed some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials with N15 million to drop the money laundering charge against him.
In the purported recording, the crossdresser also claimed that her “godfather,” alongside the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, ensured she served the six-month sentence in a private apartment and not in prison.
Also in the clip, Bobrisky claimed that he spoke with the SAN’s rapper and actor son Folarin Falana who said he would speak with his dad to get presidential pardon. This has now been denied by the Folarins who threatened to go to court to clear their names.
But in an interview on Channels TV, the respected lawyer said he has helped about 250 people seeking state pardon without charging them.
He said, “Bobrisky never spoke to me, I have never met him, I do not know him from Adam. He was alleged to have spoken to my son Folarin (Falz).
“Yes, my son said this guy was appealing to people for assistance and called my son I think on May 4 this year – please can you give me N3 million to be placed in a special part of the prison, we call it the VIP section.
“My son asked him, are you calling me under the authorization of the superintendent of prisons? He said no – please don’t call me again, I am unable to assist you to bribe the prison authorities and be very careful since you are already in prison for an offence.
“Please if you are you are going to call me next time, you either do through the superintendent or you write a letter endorsed by the prison authorities and that was the last. Somebody now start releasing tapes somewhere and went out to lampoon and rather defame me by saying the guy has spoken to me.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria had swiftly given VeryDarkMan 24 hours to “retract his offensive and derogatory publication,” against him and issue a public apology while Falz, in a separate letter, also demanded the same things.
In separate letters from the Falanas’ counsel, Taiwo E. Olawanle, VeryDarkMan was given 24 hours to retract his statements and issue a public apology.
Olawanle characterised VeryDarkMan’s statements as “a vicious, wicked, and reckless ploy” designed to tarnish Falana’s reputation among the public.
However, VeryDarkMan recently tendered an apology to Falana when he appeared before the Nigerian House of Representatives.
He said, “Apparently, now, some people are taking advantage of what is going to target Femi Falana.
“Here, I apologise. It’s so sad that his name was inside that audio. I couldn’t believe as well; that is the part that irritated me more when I said I refuse to believe that he is a party to something like that.”
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