The commission then invited VeryDarkMan and Bobrisky over bribery allegations against its officials.
Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC chairman, also ordered an immediate investigation into the allegations.
But on Wednesday, the crossdresser described the viral recording as “fake,” arguing that she did not pay any amount to the anti-graft agency.
Similarly, popular rapper, appeared to have confirmed a part of VeryDarkMan’s claims in a warning letter to the activist.
In a letter demanding the activist to retract his allegation, Falz claimed the crossdresser called him to seek financial assistance of “N3 million to pay some officials to get a VIP prison section” — which he declined.
In his reaction, VeryDarkMan, through Deji Adeyanju, his legal representative, denied putting out a defamatory statement against the human rights lawyer.
The activist clarified that releasing the voice recordings was to prompt a thorough investigation into Bobrisky’s allegations, not to defame Falana.
He stressed that he holds Falana in high esteem for his human rights activism in Nigeria and believes an investigation is necessary instead of pursuing defamation charges.
“Our client denies defaming Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, a renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and globally recognised human rights activist, but asserts that he only published the said communication with a view to getting the relevant agencies, and even your client, to initiate a thorough investigation into the far-reaching allegations made by Mr. Okuneye in the said voice recording, especially as some element of the voice recording has been confirmed by Mr. Folarin Falana in his solicitor’s letter of September 25, 2024,” the letter reads in part.
“Our client holds Mr. Femi Falana, SAN in very high esteem and recognises his commitment to the protection of human rights and rule of law in Nigeria. It is in the light of the foregoing that our client believes that the appropriate line of action in the circumstance is an interagency investigation into the allegations contained in the voice recording, rather than pursuing a case of defamation.”
VeryDarkMan also disclosed that Falana is his go-to person when in trouble, adding that “he is on my emergency contact”.
He insisted that he only said he would be disappointed if Falana were involved in the allegations.
“I only reacted to the call Bobrisky made in which he made allegations that he alleged that Uncle Femi Falana and Falz collected N10 million. And what I said is I choose not to believe that Uncle Femi Falana is associated with that and if, I would be disappointed because of his position in society,” he said in an Instagram video.
“I had an option of cutting the video where he mentioned Falz, but I refused because I wanted a thorough investigation into the matter. I have another one to post. That is from a totally different person. The EFCC was named, and the comptroller general was named.
“If Bobrisky was lying, he should face the law for using somebody as big as uncle Femi Falana to do something like that. Uncle Femi Falana is my emergency contact if a big person with influence holds me.”
Falz also demanded a retraction from VeryDarkMan.
Responding, VeryDarkMan argued that he did not defame the rapper. He also said he is ready to appear in court.