Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has denied having any contact or receiving bribe from a popular crossdresser, Idris Okuneye known as Bobrisky.
Recall that a social media influencer, Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, had alleged that Bobrisky paid N15million bribe to some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to drop money laundering charges against him.
The influencer also alleged that Mr Falana sought a presidential pardon for Bobrisky in exchange for N10 million.
But speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Mr Falana denied ever meeting Bobrisky or speaking to him.
“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],” Mr Falana said.
He further narrated, “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 authorisation 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, who labelled the allegation, “infantile radicalism”, said he has assisted 280 convicted people both home and abroad to get pardon and never on any occasion has he or his law firm demanded for or received a dime from anybody granted pardon.
He also said he has resisted the temptation to file a criminal complaint because he is leading a team of lawyers in West Africa campaigning for decriminalisation of freedom of expression.
He, however, said that it is not a licence for defaming and blackmailing people, adding that they will embark on civil proceedings with a view to restoring his integrity and that of his son.