Allegations of Corruption and Fraud: Bobrisky May Face New Charges Over Prison Term and Bribes
A highly influential crossdresser in Nigeria, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, is potentially facing fresh criminal charges after making controversial claims about his prison stay and alleged bribes to corrupt officials.
Naijawebinfo recalls that Bobrisky was initially sentenced to six months in prison for abuse of the naira, from which he was released on August 5. However, a video appeared suggesting that he bribed members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to have money laundering charges dropped against him, and even bribed officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service to serve his sentence in a private apartment.
The video, shared by activist VeryDarkMan, features Bobrisky claiming that a “godfather” and Haliru Nababa, the controller general of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), ensured that he completed his sentence in a private apartment.
But a panel investigating the allegations found no evidence to support Bobrisky’s claims, stating that he did not sleep outside the Kirikiri Custodial Centre during his six-month sentence. According to the panel’s report, which was obtained by Sunday PUNCH, Bobrisky’s actions have left a stain on the Nigerian Correctional Service, and he should be charged with defamation and criminal charges.
The report suggested that if Bobrisky’s bribery allegations are substantiated, he should face charges under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act for bribing public officials. The report also recommended that the Department of State Services investigate whether Bobrisky or his proxy attempted to bribe EFCC or NCoS officials and charged accordingly.
Furthermore, the panel found evidence of misconduct among some correctional officers, including a former Controller of Corrections, Ben Rabbi-Freeman, who allegedly backdated transfer documents for Bobrisky and caused other officials to sign them. The panel recommended disciplinary action against these officers in accordance with the Nigerian Correctional Service’s conditions of service and applicable laws.
The investigators also identified issues with the management of inmates’ records and suggested the need for regular audits and adequate funding for welfare and support services. They also proposed setting up a mechanism to ensure the effective implementation of non-custodial measures across the country.
