Alleged N15m bribe: Bobrisky slams N1bn defamation suit on VDM
Social media personality and cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has slammed a lN1bn defamation lawsuit against internet activist and influencer, VeryDarkMan (VDM).
The legal battle stems from VDM sharing a voice recording, which he alleged was that of Bobrisky claiming to have bribed officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with N15 million to drop the money laundering charge against him.
Bobrisky, however, has denied the claims, stating that the voice recordings purportedly implicating him in any wrongdoing were artificially generated using AI technology.
Sharing a letter from her lawyers via her social media account, Bobrisky sued VDM for N1 billion as damages and gave him 24 hours to publish a written and video recording apology.
Recall that the House of Representatives has launched an investigation into bribery allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).
The allegations, made by VeryDarkMan, claimed that the EFCC dropped money laundering charges against Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, after receiving N15 million.
Rep Patrick Umoh, representing Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, sponsored the motion during Thursday’s plenary, expressing concern over the damaging allegations.
He emphasised the negative image of Nigeria as a corrupt nation and the need for urgent action.
Addressing his colleagues, Umoh expressed concern over the widely circulated publication by VeryDarkMan against the EFCC and the NCS.
He said, “The publication alleges that the EFCC dropped money laundering charges against Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky upon collection of the sum of N15,000,000.
“The publication alleges that Idris Okuneye, upon conviction for abuse and defacing of the Naira, by the court, did not serve his time at the Nigeria Correctional Service, but was lodged outside the confines of the service.
“We are disturbed about the damning allegations against Nigerian critical law enforcement agencies-the EFCC and the NCS established by these hallowed chambers to fight correction and incarcerate persons convicted of a crime for correctional purposes respectively.”
He also added that the negative image and portrayal of Nigeria as a corrupt nation in the publication should not be swept under the carpet.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas who presided over the plenary session, referred it to the Committees on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions.
