The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an unconditional and thorough investigation into serious allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). In a statement released on Wednesday, the Minister’s media aide, Babatunde Alao, emphasized the Minister’s unequivocal condemnation of the alleged misconduct.
Minister Tunji-Ojo stressed that any form of indiscipline, unprofessionalism, and corruption will not be tolerated within the paramilitary services under the Ministry’s oversight. “The Ministry will uphold its core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability. We will leave no stone unturned in eradicating corruption and ensuring that those found culpable face the full force of the law,” he stated.
To facilitate this investigation, Tunji-Ojo has established a special investigative team led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani. The team has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive inquiry and submitting a detailed report. The Minister reassured the public that the investigation will be conducted rigorously, transparently, and impartially, with appropriate disciplinary measures implemented against any personnel found guilty.
This inquiry follows explosive allegations made by Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, in a viral video released by blogger Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan. Bobrisky alleged that he bribed a senior NCoS officer and also claimed to have paid N15 million to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to have a money laundering charge against him dropped.
In response to these allegations, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, announced that the Commission’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has formed a dedicated team of investigators to scrutinize the matter closely.
Bobrisky was released from the Kirikiri Correctional Centre on August 5 after serving six months for a naira abuse charge, to which he pleaded guilty in a Federal High Court in Lagos. His claims have sparked significant public interest and prompted swift action from the Ministry.
