Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, has publicly apologized to prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, following controversial bribery claims involving crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky. The social media influencer expressed regret over the accusations, which have sparked widespread discussion online.
The apology came during a session on Monday with the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions. During the session, VeryDarkMan clarified that he did not believe Falana was involved in any bribery scheme, despite previously sharing content that hinted at such claims.
“Apparently, now, some people are taking advantage of what is going to target Femi Falana,” he said during his appearance. “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.”
The controversy began after VeryDarkMan posted an audio clip online, allegedly involving Bobrisky. In the clip, Bobrisky claimed to have bribed officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with ₦15 million to dismiss money laundering charges against her.
Additionally, the crossdresser claimed that she had a “godfather” and the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, who helped her serve her six-month prison sentence in a private apartment rather than in an actual prison facility.
These revelations triggered reactions across social media, leading to public calls for further investigation. In response to the situation, VeryDarkMan released a video urging the authorities to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations. He also insisted that his intention was never to damage Falana’s reputation.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, VeryDarkMan alleged that Falana had sought a presidential pardon for Bobrisky in exchange for ₦10 million. This claim, however, was met with a strong denial from Falana’s legal team.
In a letter dated September 25, 2024, issued by Falana & Falana’s Chambers and signed by Taiwo E. Olawanle, Falana rejected all accusations, stating he never had any discussions with Bobrisky regarding a presidential pardon or any other related matters.
