An investigative panel formed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has confirmed that popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, completed a six-month prison sentence.
KanyiDaily recalls that Bobrisky was sentenced to size months in prison on April 12 for naira abuse and was released from prison in August.
Controversial social critic Martins Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan, had earlier shared an audio clip allegedly featuring Bobrisky.
In the recording, Bobrisky claimed to have paid N15 million to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to drop money laundering charges against him.
In the same audio, Bobrisky also stated that his “godfather,” along with staff from the Nigerian Correctional Service, arranged for him to serve the sentence in a private apartment instead of a prison cell.
On September 30, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, set up a panel, chaired by Magdalena Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, to investigate the claims of corruption and other violations within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).
On Monday, October 21, the panel presented its initial findings.
Uju Agomoh, a panel member and founder of the Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, reported that there was no proof that Bobrisky stayed outside prison during his sentence.
Agomoh stated, “The panel did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Mr Okuneye slept outside the custodial centre during the period of his imprisonment, which was from 12th April 2024 to 5th August 2024, which is a six-month correctional sentence with the usual remission applicable.”
He said during this time, Bobrisky was transferred from Kuje Custodial Centre to the Medium Security Centre in Kirikiri, Lagos, and then to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, where he completed his sentence.
According to him, Bobrisky received certain privileges while in custody, including a furnished single cell, a humidifier, and frequent visits from family and friends.
He added, “The panel also found that Mr. Okuneye Idris enjoyed several privileges while in custody, both at the Medium Security and the Maximum Security Custodial Centres, which include, especially the following: furnished single cells, humidifier, lots of visits by his family members and friends as he desired, self-feeding, designated inmates to run errands for him, access to fridge and television, and possibly access to his phone.”
However, the panel pointed out that moving Bobrisky to a maximum-security facility as a first-time offender was against Section 164A and 164B of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019.
The panel recommended further investigation into whether these privileges were granted due to financial incentives or corrupt practices within the correctional system.
They also suggested the creation of clear guidelines to prevent discrimination based on inmates’ socio-economic status in the future.
He said, “It is necessary to further investigate if the above privileges provided for Okuneye Idris were financially motivated and based on corrupt practices by correctional officers.
“The panel believes that the peculiar case of the inmates and the inmates’ physical look and behaviour pose a threat, and the lack of laid-down rules for the treatment of such a case may have necessitated such privileges to be granted to Okunenye Idris.
“The panel recommends that clear guidelines need to be set up to guide operations regarding such incidents in future. Steps should be taken to avoid the obvious discriminatory practices in relation to the socio-economic levels and other status of inmates.”
This incident follows previous claims by VeryDarkMan shared an audio recording in which Bobrisky allegedly said he bribed officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with N15 million.
