An investigative panel established by the Federal Government has disclosed that Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky , a controversial crossdresser, completed his six-month jail sentence in a prison after being convicted for Naira abuse-related offenses.
The panel, led by Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, also concluded that there was no evidence to substantiate allegations that the crossdresser, Bobrisky, bribed Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) officials to reside in a rented apartment outside the prison during his sentence.
NEWSCLICKNG recalls that Bobrisky was released from prison on August 5 after completing his six-month jail sentence, which began on April 12 following his conviction for violating laws related to the abuse of Naira notes.
The investigation was initiated by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in response to allegations arising from viral audio recordings shared by social media activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan. In the audio, Bobrisky allegedly claimed to have bribed officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to have money laundering charges against him dropped.
Additionally, Bobrisky’s voice was heard in the recordings claiming that a “godfather,” in collaboration with the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Haliru Nababa, arranged for him to serve his sentence in a private apartment instead of a prison facility.
In response to public outrage over the allegations, the Federal Government set up an investigative panel on September 30, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior. The panel was assigned the task of investigating the alleged corruption and other violations within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
“The Executive Director and Founder of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Uju Agomoh,On Monday, presented the findings from the first phase of the investigation. She confirmed that the panel found no evidence to support claims that Bobrisky served his jail term outside of a custodial facility.
“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 the 5th August 2024,” Agomoh stated during a briefing at the Ministry of Interior in Abuja. She also noted that Bobrisky’s six-month sentence included the usual remission applicable to inmates.
The panel’s report dispelled rumors that Bobrisky served her sentence in a private apartment but confirmed that the crossdresser was granted special privileges during his time in custody.
Further details from the investigation may emerge as the panel continues its probe into the alleged corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
