Bobrisky: FG sets up panel to probe NCoS amid denials

• CASER petitions ICPC

Following the controversy between the cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, and social media influencer and blogger, Martins Otse (also known as VeryDarkMan) over bribery allegations involving top government officials, the Federal Government yesterday inaugurated an independent investigative panel to probe allegations of corruption and gross violations of standard operating procedures within the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated the committee, yesterday in Abuja. He said the committee would also look at the recent allegation that some correctional service personnel had provided an alternative accommodation for convicted cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky.

Tunji-Ojo noted the need for a holistic approach to unravel the issues being investigated, through empirical and fact-finding processes that would proffer lasting solutions to the challenges.

Headed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, the minister charged the committee to uphold justice without fear or favour to any party.

The committee comprises Director Legal, Mrs Omotese Eva; Director, Joint Services, Nasir Usman; President, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, PRAWA, Dr Uju Agomoh, who is a former Board Member of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA); and Human Rights Radio consultant, a Forensic Researcher and Social Impact Expert with over 27 years experience in corporate leadership, Dr. Ikechukwu Ezeugo.

MEANWHILE, the Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER) has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.

The civil society organisation said it made the petition in public interest, stressing that the anti-graft agency was the proper body to investigate claims in the audio recording of Bobrisky as released by Very Dark Man.

The controversial blogger had, in viral videos, alleged that some officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) collected N15 million from Bobrisky for the anti-graft agency to drop money laundering charges against him during his naira spraying ordeal in April this year.

The blogger also alleged that Bobrisky paid some millions of naira to a senior lawyer and spent time in a VIP facility instead of prison during his six-month jail term over naira abuse.

However, the controversial cross-dresser, Bobrisky, described the audio recording as fake and Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated. But in a petition, dated September 30 and addressed to the Chairman of ICPC, the Executive Director, CASER, Frank Tietie, called for an independent, impartial and consequential criminal investigation of the veracity of the audio recording.

According to Tietie, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, only an independent and impartial anti-corruption agency, like the Commission, can get to the root of the issues and ‘chart a path of national recovery from the social decadence that the contents of the viral audio recording have typified’.

RESPONDING to allegations against it, the Nigerian Correctional Services said it did not keep Idris Ogunleye, also known as Bobrisky, in the general cell because he has some special feminine features.

The NCoS official in charge of the Kirikiri Medium Security Facility, Michael Benson, said this, yesterday, during the investigative hearing conducted by the House of Representatives.

Recall that the House is investigating the alleged N15 million bribe demanded by the EFCC and the money paid to NCoS officials in exchange for Bobrisky to be given special privileges during his six months incarceration.

Benson said: “Bobrisky have some special features like breast. If we put him in the general cell, you would have to bring out his body from the cell. We have some convicted rapist and sodomites.”

He said Bobrisky was later moved out of the Medium Security Correctional Facility into the Maximum Security facility for his own safety. The officer, however, said the action was taken in his absence by his superior.

Bobrisky did not appear before the panel, but has been ordered by the House to appear in a date yet to be announced by the lawmakers.
ALSO responding to allegations against it, EFCC, through its counsel, Bilikisu Bala, yesterday, told the Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating the allegations that charges of money laundering dropped in the trial of Idris Okuneye were lawful and in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA).

Bala, head of the prosecution team handling the trial of Okuneye, told the committee the charges were dropped based on the disclosure by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) that Okunenye’s firm, Bob Express, was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business and Profession (DSNFIBP), and could not be prosecuted for flouting provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention & Prohibition Act, 2022.

“We initially raised six count charges bordering on naira abuse and money laundering against Okuneye based on his confessional statement that his firm, Bob Express, was not registered with SCUML and was not rendering returns to it. The prosecutor dismissed claims of financial inducement in dropping charges maintaining that no such thing happened.