The Federal Government has established a committee to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), made by crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, officially inaugurated the independent investigative panel on Monday.
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“We want to really reform the correctional service. Your core responsibility is to investigate specific allegations of corruption, torture, and mistreatment of inmates by correctional officers, especially the immediate one on Bobrisky which I expect to be out in 2 weeks,” he said according to a statement from the ministry.
“We will rely on your legal guidance to be sure that whatever we do is in line with the law of the land. We will rely on you to be able to come up with the way forward, as well as facts that would be made public to Nigerians. I want to say this very clearly, nobody will be shielded. Nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be shielded,” the minister said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Magdalene Ajani, chairs the investigative panel. Other members include Omotese Eva, Director of Legal Services; Nasir Usman, Director of Joint Services; Dr. Uju Agomoh, President of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) and former board member of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA); and Dr. Ikechukwu Ezeugo, a consultant for Human Rights Radio, forensic researcher, and social impact expert with over 27 years of corporate leadership experience.
Earlier, the Minister, who also serves as Chairman of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), suspended several officers in charge of the maximum and minimum custodial centers in Kirikiri, Lagos State, following allegations made by Bobrisky.
A phone recording of Bobrisky, released by blogger Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, featured the crossdresser claiming to have served time.
Bobrisky had been sentenced to six months in prison for naira abuse, but the leaked conversation suggested that he stayed in a VIP facility rather than in a standard prison.
The House of Representatives subsequently invited VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky, and others for further inquiry into the allegations.
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