In a recent development, an investigative panel set up by Nigeria's Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has confirmed that popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, completed his six-month prison sentence, debunking claims that he was granted preferential treatment during his incarceration.
Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison on April 12, 2024, after being convicted of abusing the Nigerian naira, a crime that sparked significant public attention. He was released in August after serving his sentence with the usual remission for good conduct.
The controversy surrounding Bobrisky's imprisonment gained further traction when a voice note surfaced, allegedly featuring Bobrisky claiming that he paid N15 million to officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to drop money laundering charges against him.
The voice note, shared by controversial social critic Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, also contained claims that Bobrisky did not serve his sentence in prison but instead in a private apartment.
According to the audio, Bobrisky credited a powerful “godfather” and the Nigerian Correctional Service Controller General, Haliru Nababa, for facilitating these alleged privileges.
In response to the allegations, Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo constituted an investigative panel on September 30, 2024, to probe the Nigerian Correctional Service for possible violations and corruption.
The panel was chaired by Magdalena Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, with Uju Agomoh, Executive Director of the Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, serving as one of the key members.
On Monday, during the presentation of the panel’s phase one report, Agomoh confirmed that there was no evidence to support the claims that Bobrisky was held outside prison during his sentence.
"The panel did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Mr. Okuneye slept outside the custodial center during the period of his imprisonment," Agomoh said.
The panel's findings have temporarily quelled the speculation surrounding Bobrisky's prison term, though further investigations are expected to continue into potential misconduct within the correctional system.
Bobrisky began his jail term on 24 March and was released from Kirikiri Correctional Centre on 5 August after serving his full term.
Similarly an Ikeja High Court recently ordered online activist, Vincent Otse (alias Very Dark Man) to remove defamatory posts against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana and his musician son, Folarin otherwise called Falz.
VDM had linked Falana and His son Falz to the Bobrisky jail term saga when he shared the audio recording.
