An investigative panel established by Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has revealed that Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, received special privileges while at the Medium and Maximum Security Custodial Centres.
Uju Agomoh, a member of the panel and Executive Director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, shared these findings during the presentation of the phase one report on Monday in Abuja.
The investigation was prompted by social critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, who circulated a voice note in which Bobrisky allegedly claimed that a “godfather” and staff members of the Nigerian Correctional Service facilitated his stay in a private apartment instead of a prison.
On September 30, the minister convened the panel, chaired by Permanent Secretary Magdalena Ajani, to investigate alleged corruption and violations within the Nigerian Correctional Service.
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In her report, Agomoh stated that Bobrisky enjoyed various privileges while in custody, including furnished single cells, a humidifier, and numerous visits from family and friends.
He said, “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.”
Agomoh, however, said Bobrisky’s transfer to a maximum security facility as a first offender violated Section 164A and Section 164B of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019.
The panel, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Magdalena Ajani, is investigating the alleged corruption and other violations levelled against the Nigerian Correctional Service.
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