Bobrisky’s Saga Reflects Systemic Issues, Says FG

The Federal Government comments on Bobrisky’s ongoing saga, highlighting it as a reflection of broader systemic issues affecting Nigerian society. 

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, views the Bobrisky controversy as indicative of broader systemic issues within the country.

Idris Okuneye, more widely recognized as the well-known cross-dresser Bobrisky, has been caught up in a controversy regarding his imprisonment for misconduct involving naira notes.

In a widely circulated audio, the cross-dresser alleged that they had bribed certain officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to receive preferential treatment while in prison.

Tunji-Ojo stated that the incident, which had been a major topic of discussion for months, reflects underlying institutional problems.

“When faced with an institutional problem, it’s important not to resort to a knee-jerk reaction,” he stated during Tuesday’s episode of Channels Television’s Politics Today.

“We established the committee to investigate all issues, extending beyond Bobrisky and instances of people absconding—it’s an institutional matter as a whole.”

Tunji-Ojo stated that reforming Nigeria’s institutions is essential for addressing similar issues that may arise in the future.

“The issue at hand cannot be postponed to a later date,” the minister stated.

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Blogger Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, claimed in viral audio clips that certain officers from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accepted ₦15 million from Bobrisky during his naira spraying incident in April. This payment was allegedly made to persuade the anti-graft agency to dismiss money laundering charges against him. Subsequently, a court sentenced Bobrisky to six months imprisonment in April 2024; he was released in August of the same year.

The blogger also claimed that Bobrisky spent several million naira to obtain a preferred spot in prison.

Bobrisky has consistently denied the allegations, while both the EFCC and NCoS have initiated investigations into the claims made by the blogger.

The House of Representatives also got involved, summoning those concerned for an investigation, while the Federal Government suspended several senior officers from the NCoS.

On September 30, 2024, Tunji-Ojo established a committee to investigate allegations of serious misconduct against the NCoS.

The panel stated that they “found no evidence so far indicating that Okuneye slept outside the custodial center during his imprisonment from April 12, 2024, to August 5, 2024. This period constitutes a six-month correctional sentence with the usual applicable remission.”