Controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, may soon face fresh criminal charges following claims that he served his recent jail term in a private apartment and allegedly bribed officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to dismiss money laundering charges against him.
A panel formed by the Ministry of Interior has recommended charges for defamation and possible corrupt practices. Bobrisky had been sentenced to six months in prison for currency abuse on April 12 and was released on August 5.
Shortly after his release, a voice recording circulated online in which Bobrisky allegedly claimed he paid N15 million to EFCC officers to avoid money laundering charges and bribed Nigerian Correctional Service officials to serve his sentence outside prison.
In response, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo established an investigative panel chaired by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalena Ajani, to probe the allegations.
The panel’s findings, presented in a report, state: “There was no evidence that Bobrisky slept outside the Kirikiri Custodial Centre during his six-month sentence.” The report further asserts that Bobrisky’s claims damaged the reputation of the correctional service and suggested defamation charges under the Criminal Code.
The report, obtained on Friday, highlighted: “The Nigerian Correctional Service should file defamation suits against Bobrisky under sections 373-375 of the Criminal Code Act for his false claims about bypassing the prison system, tarnishing the institution’s reputation.”
The panel also recommended that the Department of State Services (DSS) investigate Bobrisky for alleged bribery. If substantiated, the panel suggested charging him under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act for bribing public officials.
Further disciplinary action was suggested for four correctional officers linked to irregularities in Bobrisky’s custody arrangements. The officers, including former Controller of Corrections Ben Rabbi-Freeman, were accused of bypassing official protocols and falsifying documents.
According to the report, Rabbi-Freeman was implicated for “backdating transfer documentation and improperly transferring Okuneye Idris from one custodial center to another without proper documentation.”
In addition, Deputy Controller Michael Anugwa was singled out for admitting Bobrisky into the Medium Security Custodial Centre on April 12 without required documentation. This breach prompted the panel to advise that all inmate records undergo a thorough audit.
The report’s recommendations went beyond the Bobrisky case, proposing an overhaul of custodial management practices: “Decentralisation of welfare and support services to inmates is crucial, ensuring oversight and funding, and engaging NGOs and professional associations for sustained partnerships.”
