Falana Denies Charging for Pardon Letters Amid Bobrisky Controversy

Prominent lawyer Femi Falana refutes claims that he charges for writing letters of pardon, responding to allegations linked to Bobrisky.

Femi Falana, the distinguished human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has reaffirmed his dedication to helping individuals obtain pardons from the Federal Government without seeking any financial compensation.

In a recent interview with Sahara TV, which was posted on YouTube, Falana talked about his long-standing commitment to advocating for human rights and emphasized his dedication to using his platform to assist those who require legal support.

He emphasized that his efforts to secure pardons for many individuals over the years have been motivated by a sincere commitment to upholding justice, rather than any personal financial gain.

Falana reiterated his dedication to this work, emphasizing that he will continue utilizing his legal expertise to assist more individuals while steadfastly upholding the principles of fairness and integrity.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: “I Don’t Know Bobrisky, Have Never Spoken to Him” – Falana Clarifies

Our policy is to not charge any fees for writing letters of pardon. This service is freely provided because we do not seek profit from people’s hardships.

“We take action when we detect a mistrial, injustice, or any compromise of the judicial system.”

Falana mentioned several occasions during his 42-year legal career where he stepped in to address cases of alleged injustice without charging any fees.

Among these, he mentioned his role in securing the release of six Nigerians who had been wrongfully detained at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre. They were pardoned by the Thai government back in 2017 but weren’t released until 2022.

“I wrote a letter to the Minister of Interior at the time, Ogbeni Ralf Aragbesola. On the day he received it, he instructed the authorities at Kirikiri Correctional Centre to release them. However, only two came here to thank me,” he stated.

Falana further stressed that his practice is motivated by a dedication to justice rather than financial gain.

“In my 42 years of legal practice, I have never once asked for any payment to write a letter of pardon for anyone,” he said.

Falana took the opportunity at the forum to refute allegations that he sought a pardon for Bobrisky in return for N10 million. He dismissed these claims as childish and absurd.

He conveyed his disappointment about the allegations, noting that they had raised concerns within his family. Nevertheless, Falana assured them of his integrity and dedication.

He said, “I assured my family that ultimately, I will not let them down.”

Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, recently posted a voice note on social media. In this message, Idris Okuneye—widely recognized as Bobrisky—allegedly stated that following his conviction and sentencing in April for abusing naira notes, his godfather worked with the Deputy Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service to arrange for him to serve his six-month sentence in a private apartment.

He mentioned that he paid a Senior Advocate of Nigeria an advance sum of N5 million to facilitate obtaining a presidential pardon for him.