The House of Representatives has summoned the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) and social media personalities Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, and influencer, Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan.
The Joint Committees of the House resolved to investigate claims made in a viral social media voice recording, in which Okuneye allegedly confessed to paying N15million to EFCC officials to dismiss charges of money laundering brought against him.
The conversation has ignited public outrage and raised serious questions about the integrity of the EFCC.
In a letter dated September 27, 2024, the committee directed Olukoyode and the Correctional Service Chief to appear before them on Monday, September 30, along with all relevant officers implicated in the allegations.
The allegations arose after Okuneye, who was sentenced to six months in prison earlier this year for currency abuse, claimed he was allowed to serve his time in a VIP facility, further fueling suspicions of corruption within the agency.
In response to the mounting pressure, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale disclosed that Olukoyode had ordered an immediate internal investigation into the accusations. The EFCC has also invited both Okuneye and Otse to its Lagos Directorate to aid in the inquiry.
On Wednesday, renowned lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, gave VeryDarkMan, 24 hours to “retract his offensive and derogatory publication” against him or face legal action.
In a letter from Falana’s legal counsel, Taiwo E. Olawanle, on Wednesday, the influencer was given 24 hours to retract his statements and issue a public apology.
The controversy stems from VeryDarkMan’s claims that Falana demanded N10,000,000 from cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, in exchange for removing his name from the records of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Olawanle characterised VeryDarkMan’s statements as “a vicious, wicked, and reckless ploy” designed to tarnish Falana’s reputation among the public.
Olawanle stated emphatically that “WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF CONTRADICTION,” Falana has never spoken to Bobrisky regarding any alleged pardon or any other matter.
He emphasised that while freedom of expression is a constitutional right, it must be exercised responsibly, and individuals should not damage another person’s reputation through unfounded allegations.
Olawanle said, “We, therefore, demand immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication as well as an apology prominently published in all the platforms to which you have disseminated it without any justification whatsoever.
“Be advised that if we do not receive your formal retraction and apology as demanded within 24 (twenty-four) hours of the receipt hereof, we shall proceed with our client’s instructions to seek appropriate legal remedies, including monetary damages, against you for your incendiary publication and dissemination of defamatory statements.
“We hope that the salient issue raised herein will urgently be addressed by you in your own interest,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, VeryDarkman accused Bobrisky of failing to repay a debt of N4million.
To support his claims, he leaked a video recording that purportedly reveals how the cross-dresser navigated his six-month jail term in April.
According to VeryDarkman, Bobrisky allegedly bribed EFCC officers with N15million to drop money laundering charges against him.
In the same video, VeryDarkman alleged that Bobrisky paid N10 million to Falz (Folarin Falana) and his father (Femi Falana) to intercede on his behalf and plead for a pardon.
Following these allegations, the EFCC has launched an investigation into claims that some of its officers accepted N15 million from Bobrisky to dismiss the money laundering charges against him.
The inquiry, directed by the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, comes in light of a viral audio recording in which Bobrisky, an ex-convict, made the allegations.
