Nigerian Correctional Service Denies Bobrisky Served Time Outside Custodial Facility

The Nigerian Correctional Service refutes allegations that Bobrisky was allowed to serve his sentence outside Kirikiri due to bribery

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) has firmly denied allegations that Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, served his sentence outside the designated custodial facility in Lagos due to financial inducements. This response follows recent accusations that surfaced on social media, claiming the ex-convict bribed officials to avoid staying at the Kirikiri Correctional Center.

The Deputy Controller in charge of Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Facility, Micheal Beson Anukwa, made this statement during an investigative hearing held by the House of Representatives Joint Committees. The inquiry addresses allegations of corruption involving both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service in their handling of Bobrisky’s case.

The controversy escalated when a recording was released by social media personality Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, who alleged that Bobrisky bribed correctional personnel to serve his sentence outside the custodial facility. In addition, the recording claimed that Bobrisky had bribed EFCC officials to drop money laundering charges against him.

However, during the hearing, Anukwa insisted that at no point was Bobrisky held outside the custodial facility. He explained that Bobrisky was transferred from the medium to the maximum correctional facility for his own safety due to his transgender status. Anukwa clarified that Bobrisky’s feminine features, such as his breasts and hips, necessitated special housing in a separate cell to prevent potential conflict with other inmates.

The Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, supported Anukwa’s statements, affirming that Bobrisky was never housed outside of the official custodial facility.

EFCC representative Bilikisu Buhari also refuted the bribery allegations. She explained that the money laundering charges were dropped after Bobrisky’s confession in court regarding the naira abuse charge. She stressed that the decision to amend the charges was within the legal framework of the commission and that no financial inducements were involved.

VeryDarkMan, who had initially made the allegations, stated that his evidence came from a person who had borrowed N4 million from Bobrisky. He claimed to have more recordings which he would present to the committee at a later time. Bobrisky’s lawyer, Averosoghene Omuvwie, informed the committee that his client could not attend the hearing due to illness, a decision the committee expressed dissatisfaction with, demanding Bobrisky’s presence at the next session.

As the investigation continues, the House of Representatives Committee has insisted that all individuals involved in the recording be present for the next hearing to provide further clarity on the matter.