Controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, is at the centre of the storm again, after he revealed in a viral audio released by activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, that some unnamed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives collected N15 million bribe from him to drop the money laundering charges against him.
Recall that Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison in April by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos after he pleaded guilty to a Naira abuse charge preferred against him by the EFCC. He was released on August 5 after serving his terms.
In a viral audio released yesterday by VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky was heard in a television conversation with an unknown person claiming that some unnamed EFCC operatives collected N15 million from him to drop a money laundering allegation which was initially included in the charges against him.
He also claimed in the audio that he served his six-month prison term in a flat close to the prisons after one of his mentors spoke to the prison boss in Abuja.
Bobrisky was also heard in the audio saying that popular rap star, Folarin Falana also known as Falz attempted to assist him in securing a pardon from the presidency through his father, Femi Falana (SAN) for N10 million.
Reacting to the scandal, Bobrisky in an Instagram post yesterday claimed that the viral audio was fake and that he did not bribe any EFCC official to drop money laundering charges against him. He also insisted that he served his jail term inside the prison.
The post read “My attention has been drawn to a fake voice recording circulating on the internet that I paid EFCC 15 million naira, and that I was never in prison… I didn’t pay any EFCC money, which is a very big lie. I served my term in full, and I came out. Discard any false information.”
Before Bobrisky’s yesterday denial of the bribery allegation, the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale had on Tuesday said that the commission had constituted a team of investigators to critically look into the allegations.
“To this end, the Commission hereby invites both Okuneye and Otse (VeryDarkMan) to make themselves available at its Lagos Directorate to assist investigators unearth the alleged bribery,” he said.
Reacting to the claim in the audio that he had facilitated legal representation for clemency by the presidency through his father, Femi Falana, Falz yesterday in a letter to Verydarkman demanding an apology for the attempt to tarnish his image, stated that most of the claims in the viral audio were false.
The letter reads in part: “To set the record straight, our client never at any point initiated a conversation with Mr. Idris Okuneye. Our client has documentary evidence that Mr. Okuneye was the one who initiated the call.
“Specifically, on May 4, 2024, Bobrisky contacted our client requesting a phone conversation with him. Our client willingly obliged, believing he might require legal advice regarding the Naira abuse charges against him.
“Mr. Okuneye called shortly after, but instead of seeking legal advice, he stated that he was in distress and needed financial assistance of about N3,000,000 (three million Naira), which he claimed was necessary to pay some officials for permission to stay in the VIP section of the Correctional Centre.
“Our client advised him that there was no need to pay the officials. However, Mr. Okuneye claimed that his lawyers had mishandled his case by advising him to plead guilty to the charges against him. He insisted on his request for money, which our client continuously disapproved.
“Without contacting our client, you proceeded to publish a careless statement containing multiple allegations, including insinuations that our client is involved in a homosexual affair and intended to secure a presidential pardon for Mr. Okuneye. The direct implication of your false, misleading, and defamatory statements is that our client, Mr. Folarin Falana (aka Falz), colluded with Bobrisky to obstruct justice for financial gain.
“The entire publication was a vicious, reckless attempt to impugn the reputation of our client and to tarnish his standing in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public. We, therefore, demand an immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication, as well as a prominently published apology on all platforms where it has been disseminated, without any justification whatsoever.”
VANGUARD
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