The House of Representatives held a hearing on Monday, questioning officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) regarding allegations of bribery linked to controversial figure Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky. These allegations arose following Bobrisky’s conviction in April for abusing the naira.
During the session, EFCC and NCoS officials firmly denied the accusations. The EFCC specifically rejected claims that Bobrisky paid N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him, while NCoS officials maintained that he served his sentence at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre and not in a private residence as alleged.
Bobrisky was convicted on April 5, 2024, and sentenced to six months in prison. He was released on August 5, 2024, amid allegations of receiving preferential treatment due to his celebrity status. Recently, an audio recording purportedly featuring Bobrisky was released by social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan.
In the recording, Bobrisky claimed he was allowed to serve his sentence in a private apartment thanks to the intervention of an unnamed “godfather,” and alleged he had paid the EFCC to drop charges against him.
In light of these serious allegations, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered an investigation and suspended several key officials, including the Deputy Controller of Corrections for Kirikiri, Michael Anugwa, and his counterpart at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Sikiru Adekunle.
At the hearing, Anugwa detailed Bobrisky’s initial intake at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, stating that he opted out of the standard prison diet, choosing instead to arrange for personal meals.
Anugwa explained that Bobrisky’s unique physical attributes led to his placement in a separate cell, consistent with international best practices for managing inmates with distinct needs.
The hearing revealed that Bobrisky was transferred to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre for security reasons, amidst media scrutiny and public interest. Anugwa noted that Bobrisky received numerous visitors during his incarceration and stated that the arrangement for outside food was legally permitted.
When pressed about allegations of favoritism, Anugwa refrained from making direct comments regarding the influence of donations from Bobrisky’s friends, stating it was customary for inmates to make such contributions.
The Assistant Controller General of NCoS echoed Anugwa’s statements, emphasizing that Bobrisky’s transfer was purely for security reasons. Both officials faced questions about their recent suspensions, with Anugwa humorously referring to the public announcement as a “social media suspension.”
Bobrisky’s lawyer, Avwerosuoghene Omuvwie, informed the committee that his client was unable to attend due to health issues, prompting calls for medical documentation to validate the claim. The committee made it clear that it would not tolerate frivolous excuses in the future.
In response to the bribery allegations, the EFCC’s representative clarified that the charges against Bobrisky had been dropped due to a guilty plea in his confession, urging the House to utilize its powers to investigate and address corruption.
The committee chairman, Ginger Onwusibe, indicated that the next meeting would require the individual who recorded the audio to appear before the committee, as the investigation into these serious allegations continues. The meeting was subsequently adjourned indefinitely.
