A controversial social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has revealed how he obtained a contentious phone recording of crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky.
VeryDarkMan admitted to possessing the recording while appearing before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions on Monday.
During the hearing, the blogger initially refused to address the committee in the absence of Bobrisky, who had been invited but sent a lawyer instead.
When called to the podium, VeryDarkMan stated, “I don’t know why I will be here and the person who made these allegations is not here. Bobrisky said in the voice note that there is a godfather. Maybe the godfather told him not to come. He has disrespected this committee by not coming here.”
Lawmakers countered VeryDarkMan’s submission and moved a motion compelling him to address the matter regarding the voice recording he released. Despite the committee’s insistence, the blogger remained firm, asserting that his lawyer would speak on his behalf, even as the committee threatened to invoke legislative powers and order his immediate arrest.
In response to the committee’s threats, VeryDarkMan said, “You are already threatening me with arrest. If you detain me, I will stay in the cell. If Bobrisky is not here, I will not say anything. If I say anything, let me die.” However, after his lawyer prevailed upon him, he eventually addressed the committee minutes later.
He explained the authenticity of the trending audio recording, stating that he received it from someone whom Bobrisky owed money, and he submitted part of the recording to the committee. The blogger had previously shared audio of Bobrisky, claiming that she bribed some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials with N15 million to drop the money laundering charge against her.
In the purported recording, Bobrisky also claimed that her “godfather,” along with the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, ensured she served her six-month sentence in a private apartment instead of in prison.
Reacting to the viral audio, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, stated that the Commission’s Chairman had ordered an immediate investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, Bobrisky denied the allegations of bribing any EFCC officer to drop the charges, asserting that he had indeed served his jail term. He described the viral voice recording as fake and emphasized that claims of never having been in prison should be disregarded.
READ ALSO: Why Bobrisky Was Separated From Other Inmates – DG Prison Rehabilitation
On Thursday, the lower legislative chamber resolved to investigate the bribery allegations against the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) following the adoption of a motion sponsored by lawmaker Patrick Umoh from Akwa Ibom.
In a letter dated September 27, the joint committee requested the appearance of Bobrisky, VeryDarkMan, Olukoyode, and Nababa, along with all officers involved in the allegations, on Monday.
Amidst the ongoing feud, earlier on Sunday, Bobrisky’s legal team issued a legal notice accusing controversial influencer VeryDarkMan of releasing an AI-generated audio aimed at tarnishing her reputation. The letter demanded a public retraction and apology within 24 hours.
In response, VeryDarkMan took to Instagram, asserting that the audio in question was a WhatsApp conversation he obtained from someone Bobrisky allegedly contacted. The influencer, known for his provocative statements, fired back after receiving a N1 billion defamation lawsuit threat from Bobrisky.
“Bobrisky, didn’t you say you wanted to ‘end it all’? Now, suddenly, you’ve found the strength to sue me. In this case, many will exchange their credibility for my publicity, as always. I will make them regret this,” he declared.
“I can stand for myself anywhere. Bobrisky sued me for N1 billion, but I’ll make a mockery of it with N1,000,000,020 and a N20 gain,” VeryDarkMan added in his post, showcasing his defiance and willingness to escalate the legal battle.
The feud continues to draw significant attention on social media, as both parties dig in their heels.
