He attempted to flee Nigeria – Immigration confirms Bobrisky’s arrest
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has confirmed the arrest of controversial transgender crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky at the Seme border connecting Lagos to neighbouring Benin Republic.
The report of the socialite’s arrest broke on social media on Monday morning with no official confirmation.
Meanwhile, reacting to the report in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, DCI Kenneth Udo, Immigration said Okuneye was arrested because he’s a person of interest.
Udo claimed that the controversial crossdresser was trying to flee the country at the time of his arrest.
“In keeping with its commitment to securing the borders, Nigeria Immigration Service NIS intercepted Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju otherwise known as Bobrisky at the Seme Border over an attempt to exit the country.
“The Service wishes to inform the public that Okuneye Idris 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,” the statement read.
FG panel says Bobrisky spent jail term in prison
The development comes on the same day a Federal Government panel set up to investigate alleged bribery against Bobrisky over a claim that he spent his six-month jail term at a private facility presented its preliminary report.
Recall that blogger and social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, aka VeryDarkMan (VDM) released a viral audio clip on social media, in which the controversial socialite alleged that he bribed some correctional officials to be allowed to spend his jail term outside the prison.
But the initial report read by a member of the investigative panel Uju Agomoh at the Ministry of Interior on Monday said the self-styled Mummy of Lagos served his term in prison but enjoyed several privileges.
Agomoh added that the panel didn’t find conclusive evidence that Bobrisky spent his jail term at a rented serviced apartment as alleged in the leaked audio clip.
He said 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, which was from 12th April 2024 to the 5th August 2024, which is a six-month correctional sentence with the usual remission applicable.”
According to Agomoh, Bobrisky was moved from the Kuje Custodial Centre to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri-Apapa, Lagos; and then to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, from where the transgender was discharged after completing his sentence.
The panel said Bobrisky’s transfer to a maximum security facility as a first-time offender violated Section 164A and Section 164B of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019.
“The panel also found that Mr Okuneye Idris enjoyed several privileges while in custody, both at the Medium Security and the Maximum Security Custodial Centres, which include, especially the following: furnished single cells, humidifier, lots of visits by his family members and friends as he desired, self-feeding, designated inmates to run errands for him, access to fridge and television, and possibly access to his phone.
“The panel recommends that clear guidelines need to be set up to guide operations regarding such incidents in future.
“Steps should be taken to avoid the obvious discriminatory practices in relation to the socio-economic levels and other status of inmates,” Agomoh added.
Bobrisky invited by House of Reps
Recall that after the audio leak went viral, the House of Representatives waded into the matter, inviting VDM, Bobrisky, and some correctional officials for a probe.
The House also invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the allegation that the transgender paid N15 million to some officials of the anti-graft agency to have a money laundering allegation against him dropped.
However, the socialite didn’t attend the public hearing as his lawyer claimed he was indisposed.
Bobrisky has repeatedly denied all the allegations thrown up by the audio clip, while the anti-graft agency and Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) ordered investigations into the allegations by VDM.
