The Federal Government has suspended several senior officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) over bribery allegations linked to Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky.
These suspensions follow viral claims from blogger Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, who alleged that some officials accepted bribes to grant Bobrisky preferential treatment.
Otse accused officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of collecting ₦15 million from Bobrisky to drop money laundering charges against him during his publicized naira-spraying incident in April, which led to his six-month prison sentence. The blogger also claimed that Bobrisky paid millions of naira to secure a luxurious spot in prison.
Bobrisky has denied all allegations, while both the EFCC and the NCoS have launched investigations in response to the blogger’s claims.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board confirmed the suspension of the officers, emphasizing that this action was necessary to allow further investigation.
Signed by Ja’afaru Ahmed, the statement assured the public that the findings would be made available once the investigation is concluded.
Among those suspended are Michael Anugwa, Deputy Controller of Corrections at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Kirikiri, Lagos, and Sikiru Adekunle, Deputy Controller of Corrections at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, also in Kirikiri. The Board also suspended ASC II Ogbule Samuel Obinna, stationed at the MSCC in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, for allegedly escorting a convicted inmate outside the facility.
In a related case, another officer, Iloafonsi Kevin Ikechukwu, Deputy Controller of Corrections at the MSCC in Kuje, Abuja, was suspended for allegedly receiving payments on behalf of an inmate.
