The controversy surrounding the jail sentence of Nigerian crossdreser Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, did not just leave a dent on the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), but it also indicted the Federal Government.
Such allegations, as brought forward by social media influencer VeryDarkMan, was one that could not be overlooked, hence, the Federal Government constituted an investigative panel to unravel the mystery.
On September 30, the minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, constituted an investigative panel chaired by the permanent secretary of the ministry of interior, Magdalena Ajani, on ‘Alleged Corruption & Other Violations Against the Nigerian Correctional Service.’
Tunji-Ojo ordered the probe after VeryDarkMan shared a video in which Bobrisky purportedly claimed that he bribed some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials to drop the money laundering charge against him.
In the footage, a voice allegedly belonging to Bob also claimed that a “godfather” alongside Haliru Nababa, the controller general of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), ensured he served the six-month sentence in a private apartment and not in prison.
Findings Of Investigation
Well, after weeks of commotion, which Bob said had pushed him near depression, the panel has revealed that they have concluded their investigation.
Reading the phase one report of the panel at the Ministry of Interior on Monday, Uju Agomoh, executive director and founder of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), said the panel found no evidence that Bobrisky slept outside the prison walls after he was sentenced but enjoyed several privileges.
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 April 12, 2024 to the August 5, 2024, which is a six-month correctional sentence with the usual remission applicable.”
The Privileges
The statement added that: “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.
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“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.
VeryDarkMan In Trouble
“Steps should be taken to avoid the obvious discriminatory practices in relation to the socio-economic levels and other status of inmates.”
This findings could spell trouble for VeryDarkMan who leveled this allegations against Bob, EFCC officials and NCO officers.
Meanwhile, VeryDarkMan, in a recent video revealed that Bobrisky was arrested and detained while trying to leave the country to evade the ongoing investigation.
As we speak, the social media space is buzzing with reactions as Nigerians air their views on the latest developments.
