The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu to initiate an independent investigation into allegations that officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accepted a ₦15 million bribe from controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, commonly known as Bobrisky.
This request follows claims made by blogger Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, suggesting that the EFCC dropped money laundering charges against Bobrisky in exchange for the payment.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NBA President Afam Osigwe expressed deep concern over the allegations, calling for the immediate dismissal and prosecution of any EFCC officers found culpable. He highlighted the need for a thorough investigation to ascertain whether such bribes are routinely paid to influence the charges in criminal cases.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede has already ordered an investigation into these bribery claims and invited both Bobrisky and VeryDarkMan to provide further testimony.
In a viral video, VeryDarkMan alleged that Bobrisky had paid ₦15 million to have money laundering charges against him dropped after an incident involving naira spraying in April, which resulted in a six-month prison sentence.
The blogger also claimed that Bobrisky had paid additional sums to secure favorable treatment while incarcerated. Bobrisky has since denied these allegations, while both the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) are conducting their investigations.
The NBA’s statement further called for the NCoS to address claims that Bobrisky did not serve his sentence in a correctional facility. It demanded transparency regarding the conditions of his imprisonment and warned that if it is proven that he served his sentence outside a correctional facility contrary to legal requirements, those responsible should face prosecution and dismissal.
The NBA emphasized the importance of restoring public confidence in the criminal justice system, stating, “The suggestion that convicts can serve their time in private residences and potentially procure a pardon through bribery undermines the very foundation of our criminal justice system.”
To ensure accountability, the NBA plans to appoint eminent legal professionals to monitor the investigation, reinforcing their commitment to due process and reform in prosecutorial and correctional practices.
