Connect with us

Lifestyle

Falana speaks on relationship with Bobrisky

Published

on

 

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says he has never met or spoken with Idris Okuneye, a popular crossdresser known as Bobrisky.

 

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Falana said Bobrisky called his son — Falz — to seek financial assistance for a VIP section in prison.

Recently, VeryDarkMan, the controversial activist, shared a purported audio conversation wherein Bobrisky claimed that Falana and Falz contacted her.

In the recording, Bobrisky alleged that she spoke with Falz in prison and that the rapper and his dad “tried to get me a presidential pardon in exchange for N10,000,000″.

 

The activist, whose real name is Martins Vincent Otse, said he has lost the respect he had for Falana over his alleged involvement in the matter.

Falana and Falz have threatened to institute legal action against the activist if he refuses to retract his comments and apologise.

 

In April, Bobrisky was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison for abusing the naira.

See also  NiMet forecasts three days of dust haze, thunderstorms across Nigeria

 

Reacting to questions during his appearance on the programme, Falana described the action VeryDarkMan took as “infantile radicalism”.

 

“My son said this guy (Bobrisky) was appealing to people for assistance and called my son on May 4 or thereabout this year and said can you give me N3 million to be placed in a special part of the prison — we call it VIP section,” Falana said.

 

“And my son said, ‘are you calling me under the authorisation of the superintendent of prisons?’ He said no. Then Falz said ‘don’t call me again. I’m unable to assist you to bribe the prison authorities. And be very careful, since you are already in jail for an offence. Please, if you are going to call me next time, you either do it through the superintendent, or you write a letter endorsed by the prison authorities’.

 

“And that was the last. And somebody said he listened to a tape somewhere and went out to lampoon and defame me. Of course we are going to examine the call logs.

See also  Falana writes CBN, demands details of new Naira notes disbursed to banks

 

“My son has never negotiated fees on behalf of anybody.”

 

‘INFANTILE RADICALISM’

The senior lawyer said he has assisted 280 convicted persons to secure pardon without collecting a dime from them.

Falana narrated how he facilitated pardon for convicted soldiers in Nigeria and 200 Nigerians in Libya found guilty of drug-related offences.

 

The human rights lawyers said he will pursue civil procedure on the defamatory statement against him to deter other social media users.

“I think it is a question of infantile radicalism. Some of our young people are not prepared to look at the provisions of the law with respect to the law of defamation,” Falana said.

 

“They just simply go out there to embarrass people. I can say this without fear of contradiction: I have assisted 280 convicted people home and abroad to get pardon. On no occasion did our law firm demand for or receive a dime or kobo from anybody granted pardon.

See also  El-Rufai sacked over 60,000 workers in six years -Falana, ASCAB

 

“Bobrisky never spoke to me, I have never met him, I do not know him from Adam. He was alleged to have spoken to my son Folarin (referring to Falz).

 

“I have resisted the temptation to file a criminal complaint because I’m leading a team of lawyers in West Africa campaigning for decriminalisation of freedom of expression.

 

“We have succeeded in getting Liberia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone to decriminalise freedom of expression. We are still appealing to other countries in the region but that is not license for defaming and blackmailing people.

 

“We are not going to file a criminal complaint. We won’t be pushed to do that.

 

“What we are going to do is to embark on civil proceedings with a view of restoring our integrity — my own name and that of my son — so that nobody will simply rush to the social media to defame any Nigerian. We want to make an example.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Lifestyle

Popular lewd lyrics musician St. Janet is dead

Published

on

By

The Nigerian entertainment industry was thrown into another round of  mourning on Sunday morning following the News of the death of popular lewd lyrics music act and Highlife musician, Iyun Janet Ajilore, better known as St. Janet.

According to publisher and socialite, Otunba Femi Davies, who announced her death in a post shared on his Facebook page, the St. Janet died on Saturday after a brief illness.

Davies wrote, “St Janet (Iyun Janet Ajilore), a popular Nigerian Juju and Highlife musician known for her vibrant live performances, energetic stage presence and socially unfiltered party tracks, is dead. She died after a brief illness on Saturday.”

St. Janet was widely celebrated for her energetic performances and unique style, which earned her a loyal fan base within Nigeria’s Juju music community and beyond.

Throughout her career, she became a familiar figure at social events and celebrations, captivating audiences with her lively stagecraft and party-themed songs that resonated with many music lovers.

See also  EFCC files N2.9bn fraud charges against Okorocha

Her contributions to the Juju and Highlife genres helped cement her place among notable entertainers in the industry.

Since news of her death emerged, tributes have continued to pour in from fans, colleagues and admirers, many of whom have described her as a talented entertainer whose music brought joy to countless people and occasions.

Continue Reading

Lifestyle

Osogbo stands still as cultural icon Ifáyẹmi Ọ̀ṣúndàgbonù Elebuibon marks 79th birthday in grand style

Published

on

By

The ancient city of Osogbo came alive on July 25 as renowned Ifa priest, scholar, and cultural custodian, Ifáyẹmi Ọ̀ṣúndàgbonù Elebuibon, marked his 79th birthday with a remarkable three-in-one celebration that drew dignitaries, traditional rulers, entertainers, and admirers from across the globe.

The event featured a grand birthday celebration, the dedication of The Ancient Philosophy International Event Centre and Ogbe Yonu Temple, alongside a housewarming ceremony and awards presentation in honour of the revered Araba Awo of Osogboland and Olú Ìṣẹ̀ṣe.

The event witnessed a strong presence of traditional rulers, including the Ataoja of Osogbo, Timi of Ede, Olufon of Orolu, and Alayemore of Ido Osun, alongside several other Obas who graced the occasion in honour of the Ifa icon.

The entertainment industry was also well represented, with veteran actor Chife Lere Paimo (Eda Onile Ola) leading the list. Others included Oyinda Duroladipo, members of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (Osun State chapter), filmmaker Amb. Kunle Afod, actress Toyin Adegbola, Oyin Adegbenro, and Olaniyan Tosin, among many others.

See also  EFCC files N2.9bn fraud charges against Okorocha

The celebration also attracted notable socialites and cultural figures, including Chife Mrs Nike Okundaye (Nike Art Gallery), Chife Akintunde Ayeni (Yemkem), Olalekan Fabilola Masoyinbo, Tayo Bello (Wasere), Shina Ayomi Daniel (Oju Abuja), Tunde Daudu, Singapore, and several other prominent personalities who added colour and prestige to the occasion.

The political class was not left out, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in attendance. He was joined by Ibrahim Taofeek Kayode and other stakeholders who came to celebrate the global cultural icon.

Ifáyẹmi Ọ̀ṣúndàgbonù Elebuibon remains a towering figure in the preservation of Yoruba heritage. A writer, poet, linguist, and globally respected Ifa priest, his contributions to cultural scholarship and spiritual practice continue to resonate across continents.

With the unveiling of new cultural institutions and the overwhelming turnout of dignitaries, the 79th birthday celebration stands as a powerful testament to his enduring legacy and influence.

Continue Reading

Lifestyle

Jubril Adewale Tinubu @59: Rich in Fortune, Richer in Humanity

Published

on

By

Adebayo Adeoye

There are men who announce their greatness with noise, and then there are those whose achievements speak so thunderously that fanfare becomes unnecessary. Jubril Adewale Tinubu — “Wale” to friends, family, and the many who hold him in deep admiration — belongs firmly in the latter category.

As he marks another year of a life lived with uncommon purpose and quiet distinction, it is only fitting that the world pauses, if only for a moment, to celebrate a man whose footprints are etched permanently on the landscape of Nigeria’s economic history.

Wale Tinubu’s journey reads like the kind of story that inspires a generation. Armed with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Liverpool and a Master of Laws from the prestigious London School of Economics, where he specialised in International Finance and Shipping, he returned to Nigeria not merely to practise law, but to build an empire.

He began his career at the family law firm, K. O. Tinubu & Co., sharpening his instincts in corporate and petroleum law — skills that would later serve as the bedrock of something far bigger than anyone could have imagined.

See also  ‘I’m a man,’ Bobrisky admits in court

In 1994, with vision as his compass and tenacity as his fuel, he founded Ocean and Oil Group — a modest oil trading and shipping outfit that he would, over the next three decades, transform into Oando PLC, Sub-Saharan Africa’s foremost integrated indigenous energy group. It is the kind of achievement that defies easy description.

Forbes Magazine captured it best in its 2011 edition, crowning him “The King of African Oil” — a title that, even years later, sits comfortably on his broad shoulders. In 2007, the World Economic Forum in Geneva named him a Global Young Leader, placing him in the exclusive company of the world’s most consequential minds under the age of 41.

Yet, what truly separates him from the ordinary captains of industry is the humanity he brings to his enterprise. His leadership of Oando has never been merely about barrels of oil or bottom lines. It has been about people — about building local capacity, championing indigenous talent, and proving, with every quarterly result and every community touched, that African businesses can compete and win on the global stage.

See also  EFCC files N2.9bn fraud charges against Okorocha

For the young Nigerian entrepreneur staring at a blank page and a bold dream, Wale Tinubu is living proof that it is possible.

Beyond the boardroom, his philanthropic instincts have left an indelible mark. Through the Oando Foundation, he has positively impacted over 500,000 Nigerian children through school adoption programmes, digital learning initiatives, and teacher training — a legacy that no balance sheet can fully capture.

In a world where success often breeds aloofness and privilege can create distance, Tinubu remains refreshingly accessible and profoundly humane. His interactions with people are marked by warmth, sincerity and a genuine interest in the welfare of others.

Whether dealing with friends, associates or even casual acquaintances, he has consistently demonstrated that true greatness lies not in the accumulation of material possessions but in the ability to uplift and inspire those around us.

Many who know him count themselves fortunate to have encountered him. Indeed, there is a recurring sentiment among those within his circle that destiny smiled kindly on them the day their paths crossed with his.

See also  Major News Headlines In The Papers Today: Abuja–Kaduna to resume operations December 5

Such is the effect of a man whose benevolence transcends social and professional boundaries.

At 59, JAT as fondly called stands as a compelling reminder that a life of impact is measured not solely by personal accomplishments but also by the positive difference one makes in the lives of others. His journey thus far reflects purpose, compassion and an abiding commitment to humanity.

On this occasion of his birthday, the tributes are many and deserved. He is being celebrated as “one of the significant contributors to Africa’s economic growth and development.” But perhaps the greatest tribute comes not from statesmen or magazine covers, but from the young entrepreneurs across the continent who look at Tinubu and dare to dream bigger.

Continue Reading

Trending News