Bobrisky, VeryDarkMan, Falz
By Tony Folarin
Society and entertainment circles have been thrilled to no end to the soap opera that the Bobrisky saga has become.
The talk of the town is that controversial cross dresser, Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, resided in an apartment while he was supposed to be serving a six-month sentence at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Apapa, Lagos.
Very early in the week, Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, released a recorded voice call between Bobrisky and another man. In the call, Bobrisky had alleged that he was in an apartment, and that popular rapper, Folarin Falana, aka Falz, was trying to help him secure a presidential pardon.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested Okuneye in April on six counts of money laundering and Naira mutilation.
He had sprayed money at the premiere of ‘Ajakaju’, a movie by actress and producer, Eniola Ajao, at Film One Circle Mall, in Lekki. At that same event, he was declared the ‘best dressed female’.
During his trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos, Justice Abimbola Awogboro sentenced Okuneye to six months in prison for Naira abuse, without the option of a fine, to serve as a deterrent to others who mutilate the Naira.
Okuneye began his jail term on March 24 and resurfaced in public on August 5.
During the week, VDM stated that Falz and his father, Femi Falana (SAN) had a case to answer for allegedly trying to secure the pardon for Bobrisky.
In the audio, a voice that was said to be Bobrisky’s was heard telling the other person on the call how the EFCC collected N15m from him to drop the money laundering charge in the case built against him. He also stated that he was taken to an apartment close to the prison where she stayed hidden for six months.
The voice said, “On my way to prison, my godfather called and assured me I wouldn’t enter prison. He told me not to worry and said he would arrange an apartment near the prison and speak to the Comptroller General of Prisons in Abuja.
“After they spoke, I was taken back and brought to an apartment where I was told not to come out until I finished my sentence. They informed the guy at the apartment that their boss instructed them to keep me there and not to let me leave.”
Immediately after his return to social media, many had voiced the opinion that Bobrisky looked too good for someone that was supposed to have been in jail for months.
To celebrate his freedom, he had even thrown a party, shortly after which he made a post on Instagram about how top celebrities had contributed a total of N18.7m to him. He listed names such as Eniola Ajao (N6m), Funke Akindele and Tiwa Savage (N2.5m each), Tonto Dikeh and Moyo Lawal (N1m each), among others.
Falz, in a statement released by his father’s chambers, which represents him, responded to VDM’s allegations. He confirmed in the statement that Bobrisky reached out to him on May 4 to ask for N3m to secure a VIP space in the prison, but he denied giving any form of assistance to him.
The rapper also issued a 24-hour ultimatum to VDM to retract and apologise for the alleged defamatory statements made against him.
In the letter signed by his legal counsel, Taiwo Olawanle, Falz demanded the withdrawal and retraction of the defamatory statements published on September 25, 2024, on VeryDarkMan’s Instagram page. Falz said VDM risked a lawsuit, including potential monetary damages if he failed to apologise within the said time frame.
