Nigeria’s controversial citizen notorious for his/her bisexual identity, Idris Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky, continues to entertain his audience with involvement in melodramas, this time around, he ends up in the hands of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Police Force for alleged attempt to flee the country to avoid ongoing investigation
Nigerian cross dresser Idris Okunleye, whom fans call Bobrisky, was arrested on Monday morning, October 21, 2024 while he attempted to escape to Benin Republic. He was reportedly arrested at Seme Border, Badagry Lagos by operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) as he allegedly disguised to avoid being recognised. Unfortunately, luck ran against Bobrisky as the eagle-eyed NIS officials, deploying credible intelligence, identified and nabbed him.
Confirming Bobrisky’s arrest same day, a social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly called VeryDarkMan, posted on his social media handle that Bobrisky was arrested by the NIS operatives
in Benin-Nigeria Border during routine passport checks. Bobrisky’s arrest occurred just hours before he was scheduled to attend a Senate Panel of Inquiry meeting in connection with allegations that he bribed officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with N15 million as well as spent his six months jail term outside the prison.
It was rumoured that Bobrisky was trying to evade questioning by the Senate over the allegations.
Last September, it was reported that the House of Representatives had summoned the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Haliru Nababa, Bobrisky, and VeryDarkMan for questioning over the allegations against Bobrisky.
The Joint Committees of the House resolved to investigate claims made in a viral social media voice recording, in which Bobrisky allegedly confessed to paying N15 million to EFCC officials to dismiss charges of money laundering brought against him.
The conversation ignited public outrage and raised serious questions about the integrity of the EFCC.
The allegations arose after Bobrisky, who was sentenced to six months in prison earlier this year for currency abuse, claimed that he was allowed to serve his jail term in a Very Important Personalities (VIP) facility, further fueling suspicions of corruption within the NCoS and EFCC.
In response to the mounting pressure, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale disclosed that Olukoyede had ordered an immediate internal investigation into the accusations. The EFCC had also invited both Bobrisky and VeryDarkMan to its Lagos Directorate to aid in the inquiry.
Confirming the arrest, the NIS explained that it arrested Bobrisky at Seme Border while he was trying to flee the country via Benin Republic. The NIS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kenneth Udo said the cross-dresser is a “person of interest.”
The NIS confirmation came even as the investigative panel set up to probe allegations that Bobrisky was kept out of the custodial centre while serving his six-month prison sentence turned in its report, dismissing the claims.
Also, in response, the Interior Minister, Olubunmi Ojo said the report would not be swept under the carpet as all those indicted would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
According to the Service’s spokesperson, the arrest was, “In keeping with its commitment to securing the borders, NIS intercepted Okuneye otherwise known as Bobrisky at the Seme Border over an attempt to exit the country.
“The Service wishes to inform the public that Okuneye is a person of interest over recent issues of public concern. He is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
“The Service assures the public that it will continue to be civil and professional in its statutory responsibility of manning the country’s borders.”
On his part, Otse had alleged that Bobrisky’s arrest by the officers of NIS was linked to his attempt to evade an ongoing investigation by the House of Representatives.
Otse had been invited to answer questions over the viral leaked audio recordings in which Bobrisky allegedly admitted to bribing officials of the prisons, to avoid imprisonment.
The recordings also implicated Bobrisky in a money laundering case that was allegedly dropped by the EFCC.
“Bobrisky was arrested this morning at the Seme border while trying to enter the Benin Republic to escape the current investigation by the House of Reps.
“He is allegedly being held by Nigerian immigration. Let’s wait for Bob to debunk this,” Otse said.
The committee investigating the allegations has, however, said Bobrisky enjoyed certain privileges behind bars.
Specifically, Bobrisky enjoyed specially furnished single cells, humidifier, lots of visitation by his family members and friends as he desired, visits held inside the office of the officer in charge of the custodial centre, floor rug, self-feeding, designated inmate to run errands for him, access to fridge and television, and possibly access to his phone.
On the issue of Abdulrasheed Maina’s son sending money to the personal account of the Kuje Prison Deputy Controller of Prisons, Kelvin Ikechukwu, the panel said the allegation was true.
A member of the panel, Uju Agomoh, who is the Executive Director and founder of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), said the panel “Did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Mr. Okuneye slept outside the prison centre during the period of his imprisonment, which was from April 12, 2024 to August 5, 2024, which is a six-month sentence with the usual remission applicable.”
Interior Minister, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo had on September 30, 2024, inaugurated a five-member investigative panel to investigate allegations of corruption, torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of inmates by prison officers; examine violations of laid down rules and regulations
governing the conduct of correctional officers and the treatment of inmates.
The panel said it “did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Okuneye slept outside prison custody during the period of his imprisonment which was from April 12, 2024, to August 5, 2024, which is six months correctional sentence with the usual 1/3 remission.
“During this period, he was transferred from Ikoyi prison to Medium Security prison, Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos on April 12, 2024, and on April 22, 2024, from Medium Security prison, Kirikiri to the Maximum-Security prison, from where he was discharged after completion of his sentence on August 5, 2024.
“The decisions to transfer Okuneye from Ikoyi prison, Lagos to the Medium Security prison, Kirikiri, Lagos on April 12, 2024, and from the Medium Security prison, Kirikiri, Lagos to the Maximum-Security prison, Kirikiri, Lagos on April 22, 2024, were made by Mr Ben Rabbi-Freeman, who was then the State Controller, Lagos State Command. He is the current Assistant Controller General of prison, Zone ‘A’. The State Controllers of prisons have the power by law to transfer an inmate from one prison to another within the same state.”
“Proper documentation of Okuneye was not made prior, or as he was being
transferred from Ikoyi prison to Medium prison, and from Medium prison, Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos to the Maximum prison, Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos. The documents were later provided on September 28, 2024, and backdated to April 12, 2024, and April 22, 2024, respectively. These are in violations of section 168 and 169 of the Nigerian Correctional Service Standing Order Custodial.”
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Bobrisky, is currently in detention at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.
