The Nigerian Correctional Service has denied allegations that Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, was transferred from the Ikoyi custodial center to another facility in Kirikiri, Lagos State.
Bobrisky was reportedly transferred to Kirikiri Prison last weekend to serve out the remainder of his sentence, but an official from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) informed PUNCH Metro on Thursday that he was still detained at the Ikoyi prison.
The official, who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to discuss the matter, stated that Bobrisky’s offense did not merit transfer to a maximum-security prison, where inmates serving life and death sentences are primarily housed.
“Bobrisky has not been moved, he is still here in Ikoyi. He was not sentenced to death and didn’t get a life sentence either. Those people sentenced to death and given life sentences are mostly kept in the maximum prison. That is mostly based on capital punishment. As for Bobrisky, he didn’t commit a capital offence, so why would they take him to Kirikiri,” the source said.
Another official, who also chose not to be identified as he was not authorized to speak to the press officially, mentioned that while there were considerations to transfer certain inmates between custodial centers in the state, it remained a proposal at the moment.
The NCoS official added that the move was for decongestion.
“Sometimes, when we discover that the population of inmates is much in a facility, we decide to move them just to decongest. We are only considering that at the moment and not that anyone has been moved. If the prison authorities want to move, they have the right. We also do so if the person has a communicable disease or because the inmate requested it for proximity to the family or an appeal on humanitarian grounds.
“The leadership might also say, ‘Let’s spread those who have less than one year sentence’, which may apply to Bobrisky, just to create space for those awaiting trial. But such people rarely go to the maximum prison,” the source disclosed.
Attempts to reach Rotimi Oladokun, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Command of the NCS, were unsuccessful as calls made to him were unanswered, and a text message sent to him remained unanswered at the time of filing this report.
According to PUNCH Metro, the crossdresser shares a cell with male inmates and underwent examination upon admission. The results of the examination showed no realignment of gender or genital organs.
An official source who disclosed this to newsmen added that the convicted crossdresser had been observing the rules and procedures obtained in the facility.
Bobrisky was arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. According to the commission, Bobrisky was invited due to a video report of spraying new naira notes at the premiere of Eniola Ajao’s movie titled, ‘Ajakaju’, which was held at FilmOne Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos, on March 24, 2024.
He was convicted by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday, April 5, 2024, after pleading guilty to the charges of naira abuse levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC brought forward six counts against him, with the initial four counts relating to naira abuse, while the last two counts pertained to alleged money laundering.
Prior to presenting the charges, the EFCC prosecutor sought the court’s dismissal of counts five and six.
Bobrisky admitted guilt to the four counts of naira abuse. Before his conviction, he appealed for leniency, expressing ignorance of the laws concerning naira abuse and pledging to educate his social media followers about it.