Bobrisky didn’t spend jail term outside prison but enjoyed special treatment – FG

A panel set up by the Federal Government to probe bribery allegations regarding controversial transgender crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky has presented its preliminary findings.

According to the initial report, read by panel member Uju Agomoh at the Ministry of Interior on Monday, October 21, 2024, the self-styled Mummy of Lagos served his six-month jail term in prison but enjoyed several privileges.

Agomoh said the panel didn’t find conclusive evidence that Bobrisky spent his jail term at a rented serviced apartment as alleged in an audio tape posted online by social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).

He stated that they “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.”

Agomoh highlighted that during this period, 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.

VDM says Bobrisky bribed EFCC, Correctional officials

Recall VDM had alleged in viral posts on his social media platforms that the controversial crossdresser paid N15 million as a bribe to some officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during his naira spraying ordeal in April to drop charges of money laundering charges against him.

Bobrisky was later tried and sentenced to six months imprisonment without the option of a fine. He was released in August after completing his term.

However, the blogger cum social media activists alleged that the ‘Mummy of Lagos’ paid millions of naira to secure a cosy apartment where he spent her prison term.

Bobrisky vehemently denied the allegations while the anti-graft agency and Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) ordered investigations into the allegations by VDM.

The House of Representatives also waded in and invited all parties involved for a probe while the Federal Government placed some NCoS senior officers on suspension due to the allegations.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also inaugurated a committee to probe allegations of gross misconduct against the NCoS.