Prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has denied any involvement in the ongoing controversy surrounding popular crossdresser Bobrisky. In a recent statement, Falana clarified that he has never met or spoken to Bobrisky and was not involved in any alleged negotiations on his behalf.
“Bobrisky never spoke to me. I’ve never met him. I don’t know him from Adam,” Falana said. He explained that the misunderstanding stems from a call made to his son, Nigerian rapper and activist Folarin Falana, also known as Falz.
According to Falana, his son informed him that Bobrisky had contacted him on May 4, seeking assistance. Bobrisky allegedly asked Falz for ₦3 million to be placed in the VIP section of a prison. “My son asked him, ‘Are you calling me under the authorization of the superintendent of prisons?’ and when Bobrisky said no, my son refused to assist him,” Falana explained.
Falana emphasized that neither he nor his son would engage in bribery or corruption. “My son said, ‘I am unable to assist you to bribe the prison authorities. Be very careful since you are already in jail for an offence,’” Falana recounted.
The lawyer further expressed disappointment that the situation had escalated, with rumors circulating that Bobrisky had spoken directly to him. “Somebody now said he listened to a tape somewhere and went out to lampoon and defame me by saying the guy had spoken to me,” he stated.
In response, Falana revealed that they would investigate the call logs to verify the origin of the contact. He also noted that his children typically refer people who need assistance directly to him, rather than acting on their behalf.
While Falana has considered legal action, he is currently focusing on upholding the principles of free expression. “I have resisted the temptation to file a criminal complaint because I am leading a team of lawyers in West Africa campaigning for the decriminalization of freedom of expression,” he said. This campaign, coordinated by the Media Foundation for West Africa, has successfully advocated for the decriminalization of free speech in countries such as Liberia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.
However, Falana warned that freedom of expression does not justify defamation or blackmail. “We are still appealing to other countries in the region to respect freedom of expression, but that is not a license for defaming or blackmailing people,” he stated.
Falana confirmed that if a public apology and retraction are not forthcoming, he and his son plan to file a civil lawsuit. “We have asked for a retraction and an apology, and if we don’t receive one acceptable to us, we will certainly initiate civil proceedings in the High Court,” he concluded.
Falana stressed the importance of protecting his family’s reputation and setting an example for others. “We want to make an example in this case, so that nobody will simply rush to social media to defame any Nigerian,” he said.
