Bobrisky: Drama as EFCC, NCoS rubbish leaked audio at Reps’ hearing

There was drama on Monday during the House of Representatives investigative hearing on the alleged bribery scandal involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).

Both the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service dismissed the leaked audio allegations of bribery involving cross-dresser Idris Okuneye (aka Bobrisky).

The lower chamber had extended an invitation to the chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, officials of NCoS, Bobrisky, and a social media influencer, Martins Otse, known as Very Dark Man, over the bribery scandal involving officers of the EFCC and the Correctional Service.

The allegation of bribery against the anti-graft agency and the Nigeria Correctional Service followed a trending social media voice conversation involving Bobrisky, a cross-dresser sentenced earlier this year to six months in prison for abuse of the naira.

The trending voice suggested that Bobrisky paid N15 million to the EFCC to drop charges of money laundering initially made against him and that he spent time in a VIP facility instead of prison.

Otse also alleged that Bobrisky, who, after pleading guilty, was sentenced to six months in prison in April for abusing and defacing the naira, did not serve his time at the facility of the prison service.

The scandal also involved Femi Falana and his son, singer Falz.

After the opening speech by the Chairman of the House Committee, Rep. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, VeryDarkMan, who appeared along with his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, was invited to speak but declined, insisting that Bobrisky should also be present in the chamber for the hearing.

He said, “Today, I will not say anything because an invitation was given to me and Bobrisky. But he is not here.

“I don’t see why I will be here and he is not. So I won’t say anything, but my lawyer will.”

However, some members of the committee suggested that VeryDarkMan should be arrested for what they described as contempt against the legislature.

Onwusibe, however, prevailed upon him to speak on the allegations, assuring him that Bobrisky would similarly face the panel.

In his presentation, VeryDarkMan said he obtained the audio conversation from a third party, who claimed he was being owed a certain amount of money by Bobrisky.

The influencer claimed that the cross-dresser blackmailed the person when it was time to repay.

He said: “How I got hold of that recording is a result of Bobrisky blackmailing somebody he owes money. According to the story and evidence of proof of chat that was sent to me.

“The person borrowed Bobrisky N4 million when he was in EFCC detention or rather in a private apartment. The person gave him the money on June 19, 2024.

“It was transferred to a Kuda account of Abiodun Okuneye, apparently his brother’s account. So, when it was time to get his money back, he told Bobrisky he needed to sort his bills in Lagos, but Bobrisky refused to respond.

“The chat where he was disturbing the guy he wants to refund immediately after he saw my video and the chat where he blackmailed the guy, asking for the money.

“I would like to read a part where he said, ‘Dear Bobrisky, this is a reminder for the return of the loan amount of N4 million as agreed. The due date for the return is September 1.’ Mind you, it was Bobrisky who gave the date.

“Then he said, ‘Kindly use the attached details to make the refund,’ but because he did not get it, he came to me.

“So this part, the guy went on saying, ‘I helped when you needed help, but when it’s time to pay me back, you are blackmailing me.’ Then Bobrisky went on to say, ‘When you kissed, smooched me, did you give me any money? I did not ask you for money because I’m okay. If not for the EFCC, do you think I’m going to ask you for money? Go ahead and call me out, I will respond to you on IG. You know I’m shameless and I don’t care. You will get your money; I have your account. I don’t want to look ungrateful, but threatening me with a 24-hour ultimatum is the height of it.’

“So these are the evidence I will be presenting. Additionally, after this, there is a second and a third one.”

Speaking, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), In-Charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kiri-kiri, Lagos State, Michael Benson, in his submission, said Bobrisky spent about 10 days in the facility before he was moved to the Maximum-Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kiri-kiri, Lagos State, where he served his remaining jail term.

He observed that Bobrisky had undergone breast augmentation surgery and possessed female breast tissue.

Benson was explaining why Bobrisky was not locked up in the general cell with other inmates.

The prison official said although Bobrisky was registered as male, he (Bobrisky) was not placed in the general cell due to his unique physical characteristics and safety.

“Though male, he has some female features; he has breasts, and this is the original medical examination done by the facility medical doctor. The admission board had to enter a meeting to discuss the best practices, and we arrived at the decision to put him in protective custody, and he spent the 10 days in our P ward, room 2 of the facility.

“During admission, there is what we call classification of inmates. In his case, it was peculiar, and we had to take peculiar steps,” he stated.

He said the service was forced to transfer the cross-dresser from the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) to the Maximum facility due to security concerns.

Benson also said he is yet to receive a letter of suspension, saying he only learned of his suspension from the pages of newspapers.

Benson was part of the senior prison officers suspended by the federal government last week over allegations of infractions raised by Bobrisky.

On his part, Controller General of Corrections (CGC), Haliru Nababa, said the allegation that Bobrisky spent his jail term outside the correctional facility is false.

“Bobrisky has served his jail term. There is no time Bobrisky spent a day outside. We have our records,” Nababa said.

Also, the EFCC, on its part, denied reports that its officials received a N15 million bribe to drop money laundering charges against Bobrisky.

Okuneye, an ex-convict who recently completed a six-month jail term, was charged to court in March for money laundering and naira abuse allegations, but as the case progressed, the money laundering charge was dropped.

Prior to dropping the money laundering charges, the EFCC alleged that Bobrisky, through his company Bob Express, failed to report a total of N180.7 million in transactions to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) between September 2021 and April 2024.

Very Dark Man said the withdrawal of the charge came with a price tag, specifically N15 million.

Refuting the claim, the Prosecutor of the EFCC, Bilikisu Buhari, explained the circumstances that led to the withdrawal of the money laundering charges.

Buhari, who recalled when the Bobrisky case file came up on April 4, 2024, explained that they dropped the 5th and 6th charges from the charge sheet after Bobrisky made confessional statements on naira abuse when he was arraigned in court.

Denying collecting any bribe or inducement, she maintained that amendment of charges is not alien while prosecuting cases, adding it did not contradict any provision of the law.

She said: “When we were analyzing the cases to prepare our charges, the purpose of the charges in the first place was to charge for naira abuse and mutilation of naira currency.

“But then the defendant confessed that Bob Express, we attached his statement wherein he made this confession. Bob Express is not registered with SCUML, and knowing that we can convict on a confessional statement, we went ahead to include counts five and six in the charge.

“But when we elected in court in the morning, having in mind the response from the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, stating that Bob Express, which we are charging for not rendering returns, is not qualified to be a Designated Non-Financial Business and Professionals as provided under the Money Laundering Act.”

Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman, Michael Nzekwe, who said a thorough investigation has been conducted on the matter, described the allegation as unfounded and malicious.

According to him, the accusers have no evidence to back up their claims.

“The place and time of the delivery of the alleged bribe or the account where it was paid were not disclosed by the ex-convict,” he said.

Meanwhile, the committee summoned Bobrisky to appear before it and clear the air over allegations against the government agencies.

The panel issued the directive after rejecting the request by the counsel to Bobrisky, Mr. Averosoghene Omuvwie, to stand for him at the hearing.

Omuvwie had informed the lawmakers that Bobrisky could not appear in person to testify on the matter because he was under the weather.

The legal practitioner explained that Bobrisky’s absence should not be misconstrued as a lack of respect for the institution of the National Assembly.

Earlier, VeryDarkMan apologised to human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, over his derogatory innuendos against the senior lawyer.

He said, “Apparently, now, some people are taking advantage of what is going to target Femi Falana.

“Here, I apologise. It’s so sad that his name was in that audio. I couldn’t believe as well; that is the part that irritated me more when I said I refuse to believe that he is a party to something like that.”

In a letter dated September 25, 2024, from his legal team at Falana & Falana’s Chambers and signed by Taiwo E. Olawanle, Falana stated that he never spoke to Bobrisky about any alleged pardon or other matters, denying claims made in the video.