Bobrisky demands ₦1bn, public apology from VeryDarkMan over alleged fake audio

Nigerian crossdresser and social media influencer, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, seeking ₦1 billion in damages over an allegedly defamatory audio clip.

IDOMA VOICE reports that the controversy started when an audio recording attributed to VeryDarkMan went viral. In the clip, Bobrisky was accused of paying ₦15 million to unnamed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials to drop money laundering charges against him. Additionally, it was alleged that Bobrisky bribed the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) to avoid serving time in prison.

Bobrisky denied these accusations, calling the audio “fake,” and clarified that he had indeed served his prison term. He stated, “I served my term in prison.”

Bobrisky’s legal team claims that the audio was artificially generated and wrongly implicated him in inappropriate relationships with high-profile figures, including politicians and law enforcement officers.

The influencer shared details of the lawsuit on his Instagram account on Sunday. His legal representatives accused VeryDarkMan of exploiting Bobrisky’s public image for personal gain and making baseless allegations without any credible evidence.

The lawsuit alleges that VeryDarkMan maliciously created an AI-generated audio recording that falsely linked Bobrisky to powerful figures in politics and law enforcement, suggesting illicit relationships.

Bobrisky’s legal team also criticized VeryDarkMan for recklessly spreading harmful content that violated Bobrisky’s privacy and mental well-being.

In the lawsuit, Bobrisky’s lawyers demand that VeryDarkMan immediately remove the defamatory audio, issue a public apology in two national newspapers, and create a video apology to be posted across all social media platforms. They also call for an end to further defamatory content and demand ₦1 billion in damages to be paid within 24 hours.

In a formal statement, Bobrisky’s legal team stated, “Our client has informed us that in your quest for social media stardom, you have continued to exploit his name, personality, and social media influence to create media buzz for your personal gains.”

The letter continued, “Recently, you alleged in one of your trending videos that Deputy Inspectors General of the Nigeria Police Force, lawmakers, senators, and politicians were having inappropriate relations with our client. Yet, you have provided no proof to back up these claims.”

The statement also addressed an AI-generated audio recording allegedly created by VeryDarkMan, which falsely implicated Bobrisky. The legal team demanded that VeryDarkMan remove any connection to Bobrisky in the recording and retract his allegations.

The legal representatives warned of further legal action if their demands were not met within 24 hours. They emphasized that Bobrisky had already suffered significant damage to his reputation and brand as a result of the defamatory content.

The lawsuit seeks to resolve the matter through an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, with a 24-hour deadline for VeryDarkMan to respond and comply with the demands.