An investigative panel established by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reported that popular crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, completed a six-month jail term.
It would be recalled that Bobrisky was sentenced on April 12 for naira abuse and was released from prison in August.
Controversial social critic, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, had earlier shared a voice recording allegedly belonging to Bobrisky, where he claimed to have paid N15 million to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials to have money laundering charges against hun dropped. In the recording, Bobrisky also mentioned that a “godfather,” along with staff from the Nigerian Correctional Service, ensured that he served the sentence in a private apartment instead of a prison.
On September 30, the Minister of Interior formed an investigative panel chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Magdalena Ajani, to look into the allegations of corruption and other violations within the Nigerian Correctional Service. Presenting the first phase of the panel’s findings on Monday, Uju Agomoh, Executive Director and founder of the Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, stated that there was no evidence to suggest Bobrisky had served her sentence outside the prison facility.
Agomoh clarified that Bobrisky was transferred between various custodial centres, including the Kuje Custodial Centre, the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri-Apapa, Lagos, and the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, where he completed his sentence on August 5, 2024.
The panel did confirm, however, that Bobrisky enjoyed certain privileges while incarcerated. These included a furnished single cell, access to a humidifier, frequent visits from family and friends, and personal errands run by other inmates. Bobrisky also reportedly had access to self-feeding, a refrigerator, television, and possibly a mobile phone.
The panel highlighted that Bobrisky’s transfer to a maximum security facility, despite being a first-time offender, violated Sections 164A and 164B of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019. They recommended further investigation into whether the privileges afforded to Bobrisky were the result of corrupt practices among correctional officers.
The panel also stressed the need for clearer guidelines to prevent discriminatory treatment based on an inmate’s socio-economic status or physical appearance, particularly in unique cases like Bobrisky’s
