….bows to pressure, apologises to Femi Falana
Blogger Martins Otse known as VeryDarkMan has revealed how he got a controversial phone recording of cross dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky.
The blogger made the revelation on Monday when he presented himself before a House of Representatives panel investigating bribery allegations involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Also, officials of the EFCC and the NCoS were presented as the Committees on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions commenced investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption levelled against the anti-graft agency and the prison service by the blogger.
The blogger initially refused to address the committee, in the absence of Bobrisky who was also invited but sent a lawyer instead.
However, lawmakers counter the blogger’s submission, moved a motion compelling him to make an address on the subject matter of the voice recording which he released.
The blogger remained adamant, insisting that his lawyer would speak instead despite the committee’s threat to invoke legislative powers and order his arrest right away.
But his lawyer prevails on him to address the committee.
VeryDarkMan explained the authenticity of the trending audio record, stating that it was received from someone whom Bobrisky owed money, as he submitted part of the recording to the committee.
In a viral video, VeryDarkMan alleged that Bobrisky paid ₦15 million for the anti-graft agency to drop money laundering charges against him during his naira spraying ordeal in April after which a court sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment
The blogger also alleged that Bobrisky paid some millions of naira to secure a choice place in prison.
Bobrisky has since denied the allegations while the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) have ordered investigations into the allegations by the blogger.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had urged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; to conduct an independent investigation into allegations made by a blogger.
Meanwhile, Social media personality, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has apologised to prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, following his recent defamatory remarks directed at the senior advocate.
Salient Times reports that in a viral audio recording, VeryDarkMan revealed that Bobrisky had alleged that some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officers extorted N15 million from him in exchange for dropping money laundering charges against him.
Sharing the viral audio, VeryDarkMan, in an Instagram post, claimed that Falana sought a presidential pardon for Bobrisky in exchange for N10 million.
The allegation was met with a response from Falana’s legal team. The senior lawyer denied the claim and insisted that he never spoke to Bobrisky about any alleged pardon.
In a turn of events, VeryDarkMan, while appearing before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions on Monday, apologised to Falana for the allegation.
He stated that he also found it difficult to believe that Falana was involved in the alleged bribery involving Bobrisky and some EFCC officers.
He, however, called for a thorough investigation into the alleged bribery, clarifying that his intention was not to defame Falana.
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.”
