An investigative panel established by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has confirmed that the well-known crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has completed his jail term.
Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison on April 12 for currency abuse and was released in August.
Controversial social critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, shared an audio recording allegedly from Bobrisky, in which he claimed to have paid N15 million to certain Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials to drop a money laundering charge against him.
In the recording, Bobrisky also mentioned a “godfather” and staff from the Nigerian Correctional Service who purportedly arranged for him to serve his sentence in a private apartment rather than in prison.
On September 30, the minister formed an investigative panel, led by Permanent Secretary Magdalena Ajani, to probe the alleged corruption and other violations involving the Nigerian Correctional Service.
In presenting the phase one report on Monday, panel member Uju Agomoh, Executive Director and founder of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, stated that the panel found no evidence supporting claims that Bobrisky was allowed to sleep outside the prison after his sentencing.
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He said, “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 5th August 2024, which is a six-month correctional sentence with the usual remission applicable”.
Agomoh reported that during her incarceration, Bobrisky was moved from the Kuje Custodial Centre to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri-Apapa, Lagos, and subsequently to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, where she was released after completing her sentence.
He noted that Bobrisky received several privileges while in both custodial centres, including access to furnished single cells, a humidifier, and numerous visits from family and friends.
However, the panel highlighted that Bobrisky’s transfer to a maximum security facility as a first-time offender was in violation of Sections 164A and 164B of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019.
He added, “The panel also found that Mr. Okuneye Idris enjoyed several privileges while in custody, both at the Medium Security and the Maximum Security Custodial Centres, which include, especially the following: furnished single cells, humidifier, lots of visits by his family members and friends as he desired, self-feeding, designated inmates to run errands for him, access to fridge and television, and possibly access to his phone.
“It is necessary to further investigate if the above privileges provided for Okuneye Idris were financially motivated and based on corrupt practices by correctional officers.
“The panel believes that the peculiar case of the inmates and the inmates’ physical look and behaviour pose a threat, and the lack of laid-down rules for the treatment of such a case may have necessitated such privileges to be granted to Okunenye Idris.
“The panel recommends that clear guidelines need to be set up to guide operations regarding such incidents in future. Steps should be taken to avoid the obvious discriminatory practices in relation to the socio-economic levels and other status of inmates.”
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