A Federal Government investigative panel has confirmed that popular Nigerian crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, served a six-month prison sentence but enjoyed several privileges during the period. This follows a controversy fueled by allegations of bribery and preferential treatment, raising concerns about corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
The panel, chaired by Magdalena Ajani, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior, was set up to investigate claims that Bobrisky did not serve her sentence in prison as required, but instead in a private apartment. The investigation was ordered by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, following viral allegations by apopular social media activist VeryDarkMan, who alleged that Bobrisky bribed officials to avoid jail term.
Insight on The Allegations
The controversy began when VeryDarkMan shared a video in which Bobrisky allegedly admitted to bribing Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials to drop money laundering charges against her. The crossdresser was initially convicted on April 12, 2024, for currency abuse and sentenced to six months in prison. However, rumors circulated that Bobrisky’s sentence was served outside prison walls due to alleged connections with top NCoS officials, including Haliru Nababa, the controller-general of the correctional service.
In the viral video, Bobrisky purportedly claimed that a “godfather” within the correctional service helped her avoid prison, allowing her to serve the sentence in a private apartment.
Panel Findings: Confirmed Imprisonment and Special Privileges
After a thorough investigation, the panel found no evidence to support the claim that Bobrisky avoided prison. According to Uju Agomoh, the executive director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), who read the phase one report of the investigation, Bobrisky was incarcerated from April 12 to August 5, 2024, at both the Medium and Maximum Security Custodial Centres in Lagos.
“The panel did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Mr. Okuneye slept outside the custodial centre during the period of his imprisonment,” said Agomoh, referring to Bobrisky by her legal name, Idris Okuneye. The panel emphasized that she served her sentence as required but was transferred between facilities during the imprisonment period.
However, the panel revealed that Bobrisky enjoyed several privileges not commonly afforded to other inmates. Among the benefits listed were access to a furnished single cell, regular visits from family and friends, a humidifier, self-feeding options, and even designated inmates to run errands. Additionally, she had access to a refrigerator, television, and possibly even her phone, raising questions about how these privileges were granted
Possible Financial Motivations
The findings have raised concerns about corruption within the NCoS, with the panel recommending further investigations to determine whether the privileges granted were the result of financial inducement. “It is necessary to further investigate if the above privileges provided for Okuneye Idris were financially motivated and based on corrupt practices by correctional officers,” the report suggested
The panel noted that the peculiar circumstances surrounding Bobrisky’s case—specifically her physical appearance and status as a high-profile figure—may have contributed to the decision to grant her special treatment. However, the report also criticized the discriminatory nature of these privileges, pointing out that inmates from lower socio-economic backgrounds were unlikely to receive similar benefits.