Controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, unwittingly opened a can of worms during the week after it emerged in a viral audio released by activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, that some unnamed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives collected N15 million bribe from him to drop the money laundering charges against him. Recall that Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison in April by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos after he pleaded guilty to a Naira abuse charge preferred against him by the EFCC. He was released on August 5 after serving his term. In a viral audio released by VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky was heard in an audio conversation with an unknown person claiming that some unnamed EFCC operatives collected N15 million from him to drop a money laundering allegation which was initially included in the charges against him. He also claimed in the audio that he served his six-month prison term in a flat close to the prisons after one of his mentors spoke to the prison boss in Abuja. Bobrisky was also heard in the audio saying that popular rap star, Folarin Falana, also known as Falz, attempted to assist him in securing a pardon from the presidency through his father, Femi Falana, SAN, for N10 million.

Viral audio confession fake— Bobrisky

Reacting to the scandal, Bobrisky in an Instagram post a few days back claimed that the viral audio was fake and that he did not bribe any EFCC official to drop money laundering charges against him. He also insisted that he served his jail term. The post read “My attention has been drawn to a fake voice recording circulating on the internet that I paid EFCC 15 million naira, and that I was never in prison… I didn’t pay any EFCC money, which is a very big lie. I served my term in full, and I came out. Discard any false information.”

EFCC probes allegation

Before Bobrisky’s denial of the bribery allegation, the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale had on Tuesday said that the commission had constituted a team of investigators to critically look into the allegations. “To this end, the Commission hereby invites both Okuneye and Otse (VeryDarkMan) to make themselves available at its Lagos Directorate to assist investigators unearth the alleged bribery,” he said. Reacting to the claim in the audio that he had facilitated legal represen- tation for clemency by the presidency through his father, Femi Falana, Falz in a letter to Verydarkman demanding an apology for the attempt to tarnish his image, stated that most of the claims in the viral audio were false. The letter reads in part: “To set the record straight, our client never at any point initiated a conversation with Mr. Idris Okuneye. Our client has documentary evidence that Mr. Okuneye was the one who initiated the call. “Specifically, on May 4, 2024, Bobrisky contacted our client requesting a phone conversation with him. Our client willingly obliged, believing he might require legal advice regarding the Naira abuse charges against him. “Mr. Okuneye called shortly after, but instead of seeking legal advice, he stated that he was in distress and needed financial assistance of about N3,000,000 (three million Naira), which he claimed was necessary to pay some officials for permission to stay in the VIP section of the Correctional Centre. “Our client advised him that there was no need to pay the officials. However, Mr. Okuneye claimed that his lawyers had mishandled his case by advising him to plead guilty to the charges against him. He insisted on his request for money, which our client continuously disapproved. “Without contacting our client, you proceeded to publish a careless state- ment containing multiple allegations, including insinuations that our client is involved in a homosexual affair and intended to secure a presidential pardon for Mr. Okuneye. The direct implication of your false, misleading, and defamatory statements is that our client, Mr. Folarin Falana (aka Falz), colluded with Bobrisky to obstruct justice for financial gain. “The entire publication was a vicious, reckless attempt to impugn the reputation of our client and to tarnish his standing in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public. We, therefore, demand an immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication, as well as a prominently published apology on all platforms where it has been disseminated, without any justification whatsoever.”

FG orders probe of Prisons Service

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has ordered “an unconditional and comprehensive investigation into the allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS”. Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this in a state- ment issued in Abuja on Wednesday and signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Babatunde Alao Alao in the statement said the minister unequivocally condemned the alleged reprehensible behaviour, emphasising that any form of indiscipline, unprofessionalism, and corruption will be met with zero tolerance and severe consequences within the paramilitary services under the Ministry’s purview. “The Ministry will not tolerate any compromise on its core values of integ- rity, transparency, and accountability. We will leave no stone unturned in rooting out corruption and ensuring that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law,” Dr. Olubunmi Tun- ji-Ojo said. “The Minister has called for a spe- cial investigative team headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, to probe these allegations and submit a comprehensive report.”

NBA demands independent investigation by AGF, NSA

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) described as disturbing, an allegation that officials of the EFCC collected N15 million bribe to drop a money laundering case against Bobrisky. The legal body, in a statement that was signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) while commending the anti-graft agency for its timely decision to probe the matter, however, demanded an independent investigation by the Attorneys-General of the Federation and the office of the National Security Adviser. It maintained that an urgent and thorough investigation was needed “to determine whether the bribe was paid or are sometimes paid to influence the nature of charges brought against de- fendants in criminal cases.” According to the NBA which is the umbrella body of legal practitioners in the country, “this investigation will also test the transparency of the inves- tigative process and the procedures for charging defendants in court.”

On the claim in the audio against Femi Falana, the NBA president said:

“The NBA acknowledges that applying for a presidential pardon is a legitimate legal recourse available to any convict, as stipulated by law. However, it is crucial to clarify that such a process must follow due procedure and be devoid of any form of influence peddling or unethical practices. “Femi Falana, SAN, is a highly respected legal practitioner known for his integrity and long-standing commitment to human rights and justice. He has denied the allegation against him. The Nigerian Bar Association urges the public to refrain from making premature conclusions regarding Mr. Falana or indeed any person’s alleged involvement in these matters. “The Nigerian Bar Association reiterates its commitment to upholding justice, fairness, and the rule of law. We will continue to support all efforts to ensure transparency and accountabil- ity in our prosecutorial, law enforcement and correctional systems. We also call for calm and restraint while investigations are carried out, and we assure the public that we will monitor these investigations closely to ensure they are conducted in a transparent and unbiased manner.”

FG suspends senior prisons officials over bribery allegations

The Federal Government later suspended some senior officers in charge of the Maximum and Minimum Custodial Centres, Kirikiri, Lagos State over the matter. This was contained in a statement by the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, CDCFIB, Ja’afaru Ahmed, on Thursday in Abuja. In the statement, Ahmed said the suspension of the officers is to enable further investigation of the various allegations, assuring that the outcome would be made public when concluded. “Following the viral video trending on social media on alleged infractions by officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service relating to Mr Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has suspended forthwith the following senior officers of the service: Michael Anugwa, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), in-charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kiri-kiri, Lagos State; and Sikiru Adekunle, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), in-charge of Maximum-Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kiri-kiri, Lagos State. “Also, the Board has suspended ASC II Ogbule Samuel Obinna, serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Afikpo, Ebonyi State, for allegedly accompanying a convicted inmate out of the Custodial Centre to a location outside the facility. “In another related development, the Board has equally suspended another Senior Officer of the Service, Iloafonsi Kevin Ikechukwu, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), incharge of Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kuje, Abuja, for allegedly receiving monies on behalf of an inmate,” he said.

Why Bobrisky was separated from other inmates – Prison experts

Prison experts have however, clarified why the controversial cross-dresser was separated from other inmates at the correctional centre while denying claims of a VIP section. Speaking on Arise TV on Friday, the Director General of the Prison Re- habilitation Mission, Bishop Kayode Williams, explained the accommoda- tions provided for inmates based on different categories. He said, “There are accommodations for condemned prisoners, those sentenced to death, who must not mingle with other inmates. The second accommodation is convicted inmates, who are the owners of the prison.” Addressing Bobrisky’s situation, Williams added, “The accommodation that is provided for males, are they going to bring Idris with his transgender body/look to go and sleep in the general cell? The first thing they do is decide how to treat someone like that. “They provided him a special place for protective custody because, with his appearance, he would be in danger. He looks like a woman, moves like a woman, and there are homosexual inmates who would be willing to take things to extreme lengths.” Former National PRO of the Ni- gerian Correctional Service, Francis Enobore, corroborated Williams’ comments, explaining that the service profiles each inmate for both their safety and the general prison environment. “Yes, he confessed in court that he is a man but he came in bodily showing that he is a woman. Some of the people behind bars are unrepentant homosexuals. There is no doubt that if care is not taken, we will have a very serious security situation on our hands,” he said. However, Enobore refuted claims of Bobrisky being given a private section, stating, “There’s no such thing as a private apartment or anything special in the prison.”