Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti recently found himself embroiled in a significant controversy involving prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, social media influencer Martins ‘VeryDarkMan’ Otse (VDM), and social media celebrity Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky. At the heart of the issue is a leaked audio clip that has sparked debates, accusations, and potential legal battles, placing Kuti in a difficult position due to his association with VDM. In response, Seun Kuti has taken the opportunity to issue a public apology to Femi Falana, clarifying his role in the matter and attempting to distance himself from further conflict.
The controversy began when VDM shared an audio conversation on Instagram in which Bobrisky allegedly claimed that Falana and his son, the rapper Falz, were involved in a N15 million bribery scandal to help her escape money laundering charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to Bobrisky in the recording, she had been in contact with Falz while in prison, and both Falz and his father had supposedly tried to secure a presidential pardon for her in exchange for N10 million.
This explosive revelation, however, quickly spiraled into a dispute, with both Bobrisky and the Falanas vehemently denying the claims. Bobrisky, after the recording surfaced, threatened to sue VDM for defamation, while Femi Falana and Falz also demanded that VDM retract his statements and offer a public apology. Falana, in particular, was firm in his response, making it clear that his reputation had been wrongfully attacked and that he would not allow such false accusations to go unchallenged. The senior advocate, known for his staunch advocacy of freedom of expression, emphasized that although he wouldn’t pursue criminal charges, he expected a civil resolution to the matter, particularly given that neither a retraction nor an apology had been forthcoming from VDM.
Seun Kuti, a close friend of VDM, found himself drawn into the controversy when he admitted that he was aware of the audio recording before its public release. In an earlier Instagram video, Kuti revealed that VDM had spoken to him about the leaked audio prior to sharing it online. Kuti went as far as expressing his full support for VDM in exposing what the influencer believed was critical information regarding Bobrisky’s claims. However, as the scandal unfolded, and with mounting criticism and legal threats from the Falanas, Kuti has since re-evaluated his position and offered an apology to Femi Falana.
During an Instagram live session, Kuti addressed his involvement in the affair and expressed deep regret for any offence he may have caused. He apologized directly to Falana, whom he referred to as “Uncle Femi,” emphasizing that it was never his intention to discredit or disrespect the renowned lawyer. Kuti spoke of his long-standing respect for Falana, noting their shared history and the many battles Falana had fought for justice, both professionally and personally.
“I am deeply sorry if that offended Uncle Femi,” Kuti said during his apology. “It is really not my intention. I will not, in any way, shape, or form, want to join anybody, even VDM, to fight Uncle Femi Falana. We have been through a lot. We have come a long way.”
Kuti went on to clarify that his involvement in the controversy was primarily motivated by his concern over institutional lapses within the EFCC, specifically with regard to allegations of the agency accepting bribes to drop charges. He stressed that he had no intention of joining any effort to defame or insult Falana. “The one thing that matters to me is the institutional lapses of EFCC taking money to drop the money laundering charge. I will never join issues with anybody to try and denigrate, insult, or defame. I’ve told people I’ve seen him work many cases. I’ve never seen Uncle Femi take money from those people he decided to help in any case. He’s not that guy,” Kuti added.
In the wake of the scandal, Kuti has also made efforts to clarify his relationship with VDM. He noted that while they are friends, he does not have control over VDM’s actions or decisions. “We are cool, but I don’t control VDM,” Kuti explained. “He doesn’t listen. You can’t tell him anything.” This clarification was in response to rumors and speculation that Kuti had played a more significant role in orchestrating the release of the audio than he had initially admitted. Some netizens claimed that VDM had shared the audio directly with Kuti before making it public, but Kuti denied these allegations, stating that VDM had only verbally informed him about the content of the recording.
Kuti’s position throughout this controversy has been one of neutrality. Despite his close association with VDM, he has consistently maintained that he does not want to take sides in the dispute, particularly as it involves two individuals he respects. Both VDM and Falz, according to Kuti, are like younger brothers to him, and he does not wish to see their conflict escalate. Kuti expressed his desire for an amicable resolution between VDM and Falz, encouraging them to work out their differences privately rather than allowing the situation to worsen in the public eye.
“I did my best. If two people I take as younger brothers are having a spat, it is not in my place to take sides,” Kuti said. “I told him [VDM] immediately to call Falz and try to seek it out within yourselves. Left to me, I would love to see an amicable ending. But if that is not the issue, I would not now come outside publicly to start taking sides between them. That means I am putting fire.”
Additionally, Kuti mentioned that he had informed VDM of Falz’s discomfort with the insinuations made against him in the recording. He noted that the way VDM had framed his comments about Falz had led many people to believe the allegations were true, further complicating the situation. Kuti’s involvement, from his perspective, was limited to trying to mediate the situation and prevent it from escalating further.
“To be honest, I also told him the innuendos he used against Falz; Falz didn’t like it because it made people think it was true,” Kuti said. “But that’s the best I can do on the issue to try and ease whatever has happened.”
Kuti’s apology and explanation underscore the complexity of his role in this controversy. As a prominent public figure and the son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, Seun Kuti is no stranger to being in the spotlight. However, this particular situation has forced him to confront the challenges of navigating personal relationships while maintaining a public stance on contentious issues. His association with VDM and his prior endorsement of the leaked audio placed him in a difficult position, but his apology to Falana indicates a willingness to take responsibility for any unintended harm caused.
Meanwhile, the legal battle between VDM, Bobrisky, and the Falanas remains unresolved. With Bobrisky threatening to sue VDM for defamation and the Falanas potentially pursuing civil action, the saga is far from over. However, Kuti’s decision to publicly apologize and distance himself from the ongoing conflict may help de-escalate tensions and shift the focus back to the core issues at hand, such as the alleged institutional corruption within the EFCC.
SOURCES
- https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/naija-fashion/741948-i-dont-have-control-over-vdm-says-seun-kuti-as-he-apologises-to-femi-falana.html
- https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/bobrisky-saga-seun-kuti-apologises-to-falana-clarifies-relationship-with-verydarkman/
