On Monday, the House of Representatives questioned officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) regarding serious allegations of bribery involving the popular cross-dresser and social media personality, Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky. These accusations arose following Bobrisky’s conviction and sentencing for abusing the naira, which took place in April 2024.
Bobrisky, often making headlines for his controversial lifestyle, was convicted on April 5, 2024, by the Federal High Court in Lagos and sentenced to six months in prison. This was due to his violation of currency laws after an online stunt where he flaunted naira notes inappropriately. However, following his release on August 5, 2024, there were growing concerns and rumors that Bobrisky had received preferential treatment during his time in custody due to his celebrity status.
One major accusation leveled against Bobrisky was that he had allegedly bribed both the EFCC and NCoS officials. It was claimed that Bobrisky paid a sum of N15 million to the EFCC to have money laundering charges dropped, and that he was given special treatment by the NCoS while serving his prison sentence. These allegations were intensified by an audio recording shared by social media influencer Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, who claimed that Bobrisky bragged about bribing officials and receiving support from an unnamed “godfather.”
The hearing at the House of Representatives was a direct result of these allegations, which had captured widespread public attention. During the session, both the EFCC and NCoS officials denied any involvement in bribery or preferential treatment for Bobrisky. According to EFCC officials, the N15 million bribery claim was completely false. They insisted that Bobrisky’s money laundering charges were dropped because he had pleaded guilty in his confessional statement, not because of any under-the-table dealings.
Likewise, the NCoS stated that Bobrisky served his full term at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre in Lagos, refuting rumors that he had stayed in a private apartment during his sentence. NCoS officials explained that although Bobrisky’s stay in prison attracted significant media attention, there was no truth to the allegations that he was treated differently due to his fame. Instead, they maintained that Bobrisky was held in a separate cell due to his physical appearance, as he had notable feminine features like breasts, which made it difficult to place him in the general male prison population.
NCoS officials, led by Deputy Controller of Corrections Michael Anugwa, revealed further details about Bobrisky’s time in custody. When Bobrisky was initially brought to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, he reportedly refused to eat the standard prison meals, opting instead to make his own arrangements for food. This practice, while unusual, is allowed under Nigerian law, and Bobrisky was granted permission for self-feeding. He designated two people, identified as Abiola Okuneye and Moji Okuneye, to bring his food to the facility. Additionally, during his time in custody, Bobrisky was said to have received 39 visitors, a figure that raised eyebrows but did not violate any prison regulations.
Bobrisky’s unique circumstances also prompted his transfer from the Medium Security Centre in Ikoyi to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri. Anugwa explained that this move was necessary due to security concerns. Friends of Bobrisky had reportedly bought plastic chairs and donated them to the prison, which led to increased media attention and ultimately Bobrisky’s transfer for security reasons. Assistant Controller General Ben-Rabbi Freeman further elaborated, stating that he personally transported Bobrisky to Kirikiri in his official vehicle, emphasizing that the decision was made purely for security purposes and not due to any undue influence or bribery.
While these explanations seemed straightforward, the hearing was not without its moments of levity. Anugwa caused laughter during the session when he mentioned that he learned about his suspension through a press release shared on social media. Referring to his suspension as a “social media suspension,” Anugwa’s remark amused both lawmakers and attendees alike. Despite the lighthearted moment, the seriousness of the allegations remained clear.
In response to the growing scandal, the Nigerian Correctional Service had earlier issued a statement to clarify the suspensions of several officials, including Anugwa, who had been implicated in alleged misconduct. According to the NCoS spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, Anugwa, along with three other officials from various custodial centers across Nigeria, was suspended to allow for further investigation into their roles in the scandal. These suspensions, NCoS emphasized, were not an admission of guilt but were necessary to ensure a transparent investigation into the bribery allegations surrounding Bobrisky’s prison stay.
Meanwhile, VeryDarkMan, the social media influencer at the center of the controversy, provided further details during the hearing. Initially hesitant to speak, VeryDarkMan agreed to share his side of the story after persuasion from committee members and his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju. He explained that he had obtained the audio recording of Bobrisky from an individual who had lent the cross-dresser N4 million. In the recording, Bobrisky allegedly boasted about his godfather’s involvement in securing his preferential treatment during his time in custody. VeryDarkMan claimed to have additional evidence, including more audio recordings, which he promised to release in due time.
Bobrisky’s legal representative, Avwerosuoghene Omuvwie, also attended the hearing. However, Bobrisky himself was notably absent, with his lawyer citing ill health as the reason for his client’s inability to appear before the House committee. This explanation did not sit well with the lawmakers, who demanded medical proof to back up the claim. Committee member Patrick Umoh expressed the panel’s dissatisfaction with Bobrisky’s absence, stating that they would not tolerate frivolous excuses in the future and expected him to be present at the next hearing.
As the hearing continued, EFCC officials sought to defend their agency against the bribery accusations. The Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman, Michael Nzekwe, represented the commission and explained why the charges against Bobrisky had been dropped. He reiterated that Bobrisky had pleaded guilty in his confessional statement, which was the reason the money laundering charges were dropped, rather than any illicit payment or favor. Nzekwe urged the House to continue its efforts to expose corruption while also protecting law-abiding officers from being unjustly accused or demoralized.
The EFCC further emphasized that the onus of proving the bribery allegations rested with Bobrisky and VeryDarkMan, both of whom had made the claims. Nzekwe pointed out that neither party had been able to provide concrete evidence or name specific EFCC officers who had supposedly received the N15 million bribe. He encouraged the public to come forward with credible information about corruption but warned against making baseless accusations.
The House of Representatives remains committed to uncovering the truth behind the allegations involving Bobrisky. The panel has called for further investigation, with a particular focus on the individuals involved in recording and sharing the incriminating audio files. The next meeting of the committee is expected to shed more light on the matter, and the House has made it clear that they will continue to hold all parties accountable until the truth is fully revealed. For now, the case of Bobrisky’s alleged preferential treatment and bribery remains a contentious issue in Nigeria’s legal and political landscape.