An investigative panel has revealed that Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, received special privileges while in custody, including having designated inmates to run errands for him.
The panel’s findings, led by Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, were part of a larger set of luxurious conditions he reportedly enjoyed at both the Medium and Maximum Security Custodial Centres.
The findings were disclosed on Monday in Abuja by Uju Agomoh, a panel member and Executive Director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, during the presentation of the panel’s phase one report.
Agomoh said Bobrisky “enjoyed several privileges while in custody,” including furnished single cells, humidifier, lots of visits by his family members and friends as he desired, and self-feeding, among others
He added that it is necessary to investigate if the above privileges provided for Okuneye Idris were financially motivated and based on corrupt practices by correctional officers.
“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,” Agomoh said.
“It is necessary to further investigate if the above privileges provided for Okuneye Idris were financially motivated and based on corrupt practices by correctional officers.
“The panel believes that the peculiar case of the inmates and the inmates’ physical look and behaviour pose a threat, and the lack of laid-down rules for the treatment of such a case may have necessitated such privileges to be granted to Okunenye Idris.”
Agomoh, however, pointed out that Bobrisky’s transfer to a maximum security facility as a first offender violated Section 164A and Section 164B of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019.
The investigation was prompted by allegations of corruption and improper conduct within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), particularly regarding Bobrisky’s treatment during his six-month sentence.
Bobrisky, in April, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, without an option of a fine for abusing naira.
However, the prison preferential treatment controversy arose after Martins Otse, a social critic known as VeryDarkMan, shared an audio recording allegedly featuring Bobrisky claiming he paid ₦15 million to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials to drop money laundering charges against him after he was released in August.
In the audio, Bobrisky reportedly claimed that a “godfather,” alongside the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, ensured he served the six-month sentence in a private apartment and not in prison.
