Controversial social media celebrity Idris Okuneye, popularly called Bobrisky, has threatened to slam a N1 billion suit on Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, for allegedly defaming him through a “doctored” audio clip.
Bobrisky, who made the threat in a pre-notice letter written on his behalf by his lawyers, claimed that the audio played by the self-acclaimed rights activist was AI-generated material.
In the letter released through the crossdresser’s Instagram account on Sunday, VeryDarkMan was accused of using Bobrisky’s name to seek and for your gains.
Bobrisky’s lawyers also claimed that VeryDarkMan released the defamatory statements without concern for Bobrisky’s mental health, privacy, or constitutional rights.
He is, therefore, asking VeryDarkMan to pay him N1 billion in damages within 24 hours, delete the audio clips, issue a public apology in two national newspapers, and record a video apology to be shared across all social media platforms.
The letter, signed by Lagos lawyer Avwerosuoghene Omuvwie, reads, “You have persisted in making reckless and unfounded statements, including gossip that you cannot prove against our client, disregarding his mental health, general well-being, right to privacy, right to freedom of thought, right to life, and other fundamental constitutional rights.
“We would expect that after such attempts against our client, you would exercise some level of caution or restraint, considering the safety and wellbeing of our client. However, your goals are personal and self-serving; thus, you have made it a lifelong task to fulfil them by any means, regardless of the adverse effects on our client and others caught in your unfounded attacks.
“Our client has become aware that you recently published an AI-generated audio call, claiming it was between an unnamed individual and our client. For the record, our client has never had any audio conversation with this individual, and your act of defamation and blackmail should be retracted within 24 hours of the service of this letter of demand via social media platforms.”
“Your AI-generated audio conversation results from you and others collaborating with you to create it. Therefore, we warn you that you must remove our client’s name from the said recording or anything that may connect our client to the alleged recording. Our client did not know of such a telephone conversation with you or anyone else.
“Our client has suffered immense damage since you publicised the defamatory content, leading to several damaging reviews of his persona, brand, and everything he holds dear. This is akin to what you threatened in a video published on Tuesday, 24th September 2024, where you stated that if our client failed to pay the demanded sum, you would publish a damaging video, which would cause him to lose friends.
“You have not only created a defamatory recording to put our client in a bad light for your purposes of blackmail, but, astonishingly, you continued to publish false information about our client even after payment, revealing your ulterior motives against him.
“Our client, by this letter, demands strict proof regarding the authenticity of the audio recording, affirming that he never had a phone conversation with you or anyone you represent. Shockingly, you would publish an AI-generated audio recording to damage our client’s social standing and place his life in jeopardy solely for your selfish personal goals.
“You and anyone collaborating with you owe the authorities, security agencies, and respected legal and human rights advocates an explanation regarding how you created the audio recording and the defamatory words used, including your confident defamatory commentary before and after the AI audio recording.
“For the record, our client has not alleged any agency or person of bribery or wrongdoing; thus, the burden lies with you to prove your allegations to the authorities and the respected personalities you have slandered. It is laughable that anyone would believe your AI audio recording stating otherwise, given that our client served his prison time within a correctional facility in Lagos State.
“Bobrisky’s legal team demanded that VeryDarkMan delete the audio clip immediately, issue a public apology in two national newspapers, and record a video apology to be shared across all social media platforms. The suit also demands that VeryDarkMan cease publishing defamatory content about Bobrisky and pay N1 billion in damages within 24 hours.
“Regarding our clients, we require that you immediately remove the AI-generated audio recording published as a video by you, along with your defamatory commentary voiceover, which you recklessly and dangerously attributed to our client. None of this material is our client’s product; thus, any name, description, or attribution to our client while publishing the defamatory material is false.
“We, therefore, demand, on behalf of our client, a written apology published in two national daily newspapers, a video recording of your apology to our client shared on all your social media platforms, a commitment to refrain from reporting or publishing defamatory content against our client, and the payment of N1,000,000,000 in damages within 24 hours of this letter via social media or any other means.”
Bobrisky’s lawyers warned that failure to meet these demands would result in legal action being pursued in court.
They added, “Take notice: should you fail to take advantage of the alternative dispute resolution mechanism introduced in paragraphs 10 and 11 of this demand notice, we shall seek legal redress in a court of competent jurisdiction immediately without any further notice to you. We hope this matter can be resolved within the next 24 hours.”
