Bobrisky Scandal: Of the Falanas and how VDM made a costly mistake, by Asiwaju Bode Gbadebo
Since last Tuesday, the social media has been awash with divergent opinions on the latest trending issue in Nigeria today – the Bobrisky Bribery Scandal – following days of taunting of the members of the Lord’s Chosen Church with the viral resurgence of their inexplicable testimony videos.
As usual, one is bound to ask for the next issue to trend because it’s our way – so, do I say ‘next, please’?
No! Before the next episode, let’s briefly look at the current issues without emotion and get some takeaways therein.
The ‘indictment’ of the Falanas in an audio recording is not tenable yet because it has not been formally established. However, the social media mob has been vilifying them for no reason other than having a conversation with celebrity crossdresser Bobrisky.
Takeaway: The fact that popular rapper, Folarin Falana, a.k.a. Falz, admitted in a letter to VDM that Bobrisky sought for his financial help to ‘sort out’ prison officials for a preferential accommodation in Prison, which he declined, shows candour on the part of the younger Falana. However, the other leg of the allegation that the Falanas sought N10m professional fees to help secure a state pardon for Bobrisky needed to be proved even though Bobrisky has exonerated them by denying the claim. Whichever way, no offence yet. Convicted former governors and others who now enjoy state pardon were recommended to the office of AGF and Council of State by some people.
READ ALSO: Alleged Bribery: Reps Invite EFCC Chairman, VDM, Bobrisky
Pointing out the VDM’s mistake might infuriate the social media mob who don’t care about the law and procedure except their emotions. But it appears that the social media influencer is being encouraged by the mob to continue to do good things in a crude way, forgetting that ignorance is not an excuse in law. By now, his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, ought to have explained the law of defamation to VDM.
Now that the deed has been done, he now has two things to contend with in court: proving the authenticity of the audio recording of Bobrisky’s conversation with an unknown person on the other side of the line where the allegations against the Prison and EFCC officials were made.
Secondly, he has the Falanas to contend with because he posted the audio recording on his Instagram page accompanied with his own PERSONAL OPINION, albeit ignorantly, thus: “In everything and everyone that is mentioned here, I will be disappointed if truly FALZ and his father are involved in this whole Bobrisky issue…”
By mentioning Falz and his father in the post accompanying the bribery scandal audio, though apparently with good intentions, VDM has also accused the Falanas of wrong-doing and he must prove it except he withdraw the post, apologise to them and they forgive his indiscretion.
Takeaway: Doing the right thing the wrong way can land the doer in trouble.
Asiwaju is an editor with Leadership newspaper.
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