Investigation Panel Calls for Defamation, Criminal Charges Against Bobrisky Amid Controversial Bribery Allegations
Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, may face fresh criminal and defamation charges following allegations that he bribed officials to serve his jail term outside prison and evade money laundering charges. According to sources close to the investigation, a panel formed by the Ministry of Interior has recommended that Bobrisky be prosecuted for defamation and bribery, pending further investigation.
Bobrisky was sentenced on April 12 to six months in prison for defacing the naira and was released from the Kirikiri Custodial Centre on August 5. However, allegations emerged soon after his release, with social critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, sharing an audio clip in which Bobrisky purportedly claimed to have bribed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials with ₦15 million to dismiss money laundering charges. Bobrisky also allegedly stated that he paid Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) staff to serve his sentence in a private apartment rather than the official prison facility.
In response, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo launched an inquiry on September 30, led by Permanent Secretary Magdalena Ajani. The panel’s findings indicated no evidence that Bobrisky had been kept outside the Kirikiri Custodial Centre but accused him of damaging the NCoS’s reputation through misleading statements. The report urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to probe whether Bobrisky, directly or indirectly, offered bribes to officials from the EFCC or the correctional service, advising that he should be charged under anti-corruption laws if any illicit payments are verified.
The investigation also implicated four correctional officials, including former Controller of Corrections Ben Rabbi-Freeman, who was accused of backdating transfer documents for Bobrisky without proper procedures. Other officials allegedly failed to document Bobrisky’s transfer into the Maximum Security Custodial Centre on April 22, despite the prisoner’s sentence having concluded.
The panel further recommended a full audit of NCoS facilities, including documentation of all inmates and detainees, to ensure transparency and accountability. Additionally, the report advised that services within correctional centres be revamped, suggesting the government establish partnerships with civil society organizations to improve inmate welfare and reduce overcrowding by implementing non-custodial measures.
While Bobrisky’s case continues to draw attention, activists have weighed in, emphasizing the need for Nigeria’s correctional system to recognize and accommodate the rights of crossdressers and transgender individuals. Rights advocate Femi Adeyeye called for dedicated facilities for transgender inmates, stating that Bobrisky’s prison conditions were unsuitable given his gender identity.
“Nigerian correctional centres need to be mindful of the growing visibility of crossdressers and transgender individuals. Special cells should be created for such persons to ensure humane treatment,” Adeyeye remarked. Fellow activist Michael Adaramoye echoed this sentiment, urging a reform of prison facilities to accommodate diverse gender identities and improve overall conditions within the correctional system.
Human rights lawyer Toyin Taiwo-Ojo emphasized the government’s obligation to address evolving societal issues. “The Federal Government’s stance on the LGBTQ+ community remains unclear, and it must reconsider Bobrisky’s treatment to reflect progressive standards on gender rights,” she concluded.
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