Nigerian social media personality and cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye (popularly known as Bobrisky) has filed a lawsuit against internet activist and influencer, VeryDarkMan (VDM), seeking N1 billion in damages.
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.
The House of Representatives has, however, launched an investigation into the bribery allegations against the EFCC and the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS).
VDM reportedly claimed that the EFCC dropped money laundering charges against Bobrisky after receiving N15 million.
Hon. Patrick Umoh, representing Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency of 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 VDM 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 N15 million.
“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 this hallowed chambers to fight correction and incarcerate persons convicted of a crime for correctional purposes respectively”.
He also said 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 referred the motion to the Committees on Financial Crimes, and Reformatory Institutions.
