Bobrisky to face fresh criminal charges as panel indicts four prison officers

• Published On: 27 October 2024 at 19:03

Controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, may face new criminal charges over allegations that he served his prison sentence in a private flat and bribed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials to drop money laundering charges against him.

Sunday NIGERIANWATCH exclusively learnt that a panel formed to investigate the allegations recommended that he face defamation and criminal charges.

Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison on April 12 for naira abuse. He was released from prison on August 5.

A few weeks after his release, controversial social critic Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, shared a voice note of a conversation purportedly between Bobrisky and another person, in which the crossdresser allegedly stated that he bribed EFCC officers with N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him. He also claimed that he bribed officials from the Nigerian Correctional Service to serve his six-month sentence in a private flat.

On September 30, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, appointed an investigation panel chaired by the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Magdalena Ajani, to investigate the claims.

While presenting its report, the panel stated that there was no evidence Bobrisky slept outside the Kirikiri Custodial Centre during his six-month sentence.

According to the report, which NIGERIANWATCH obtained exclusively on Friday, Bobrisky tarnished the image of the correctional service by making false claims.


The panel also requested that the Department of State Services investigate whether he bribed the EFCC or the correctional service, either directly or through a proxy.

If Bobrisky's allegations of bribery are proven, the panel believes he should be charged with corrupt practices.

"The Nigerian Correctional Service should file defamation suits against Bobrisky under sections 373-375 of the Criminal Code Act for making false claims about avoiding the prison system, tarnishing the institution's reputation.

"The DSS should be asked to investigate whether Bobrisky, directly or through a proxy, bribed EFCC or NCoS officials. If the allegations are proven, Bobrisky should face charges under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act for bribery of public officials," the report stated.

The panel also indicted four correctional officers who were recommended for disciplinary action under the NCoS's condition of service, civil service, and relevant laws.

One of those recommended for sanctions is Ben Rabbi-Freeman, a former Controller of Corrections.

He was accused of "effecting the transfer of Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju from the Medium-Security Custody Centre to the Maximum-Security Custodial Centre on April 22, 2024, after more than four months of the transfer date and after the inmate had completed his imprisonment term; backdating the transfer documentation in relation to 1a and 1b above."


"Causing the in-charge Ikoyi Custodial Centre, in-charge Medium-Security Custodial Centre, and in-charge Maximum-Security Custodial Centre to sign backdated transfer documents in relation to Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju."

In addition, Micheal Anugwa, the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Kirikiri Medium Security, was recommended for disciplinary action after claiming during a parliamentary inquiry that he had not been suspended despite an official order from the Minister of Interior.

On April 12, 2024, he was indicted for admitting Bobrisky to the Medium Security Custodial Centre without the required documentation and transfer documentation.

"DCC Balogun Sikiru (retd) — formerly in-charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre for receiving Bobrisky into the Maximum Security Custodial Centre without the relevant documentation on April 22, 2024, and without the necessary transfer documentation, and DCC Sikiru Kamoru Adekunle who was in charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre for backdating the transfer documentation in relation to receiving Okuneye Idris into the Maximum Security Custodial Centre on

The panel also recommended an audit of all inmates and detainees in all NCoS custodial facilities, as well as warrants and other records. It requested that a mechanism be established to carry out this oversight on a weekly basis.

It demanded "the immediate decommercialisation of all welfare and support services to inmates, as well as the establishment of adequate funding and oversight to ensure their continuation." This will also include developing long-term partnerships with civil society organisations (for example, relevant NGOs and professional associations) on some or all of these.

"Facilitate the effective implementation of non-custodial measures across the entire country to help reduce the number of people in custodial centres by utilising imprisonment only as a last resort," added the report's conclusion.


Special facilities in custodial centres.

A senior management officer at the NCoS told Sunday PUNCH that what was referred to as VIP treatment for certain prisoners was a special facility that had existed for many years.

According to the high-ranking officer, custodial centres have varying facilities, and prisoners' conditions (health, age, and gender) determine which facility they are assigned to while serving their jail sentence.

The officer stated, "There are various facilities in custodial centres across the country, and it is not uncommon to treat some prisoners differently based on their health conditions, gender, age, and sentence category. Importantly, the prison authority considers human rights and the treatment of inmates.

"The Bobrisky case has really opened our eyes. The NCoS authority confirmed that he is a woman from the middle up and a man from the middle down. We had never had such a person in our custody, and there is no facility to handle such a situation. He had to be placed in a separate cell to prevent abuse. That facility is what he mistakenly referred to as a private flat.

"Whether a prisoner is a VIP or not, his or her condition determines which facility he or she will be housed in. We cannot place a prisoner with high blood pressure in a cell without adequate ventilation."

Activists advocate for crossdressers.


Okuneye's case has sparked a debate about human rights and the inclusion of crossdressers, transgenders, and transsexual people in the country's laws, institutions, and services.

Some activists, who spoke with Sunday NIGERIANWATCH, argued that the government and its institutions should be aware of these individuals' presence and make arrangements for them.

The activists believe that sexual orientation is a human right that should be respected by the Nigerian government.

Femi Adeyeye, an activist, claimed that the Kirikiri Custodial Centre, where Bobrisky served his jail term, was unsuitable for his sexual orientation.

Adeyeye urged the federal government to respect individuals' rights regardless of sexual orientation. He also urged the government to establish special facilities for transgender inmates.

"A special cell for transgender persons is a welcome development; it's something the government should look into," the minister said.

Another activist, Michael Adaramoye, observed that Nigerian society had not accepted the reality of a growing transgender population.

However, Adaramoye stated that, "While we must recognise individuals' right to sexual freedom as long as it does not violate the rights of others, we must also be sensitive to the concerns of other members of society."

He advocated for facilities to accommodate transgender people in prisons and cells.

"It is important to note that our correctional facilities are designed in a manner that dehumanises inmates. Any positive character reform is difficult to achieve in such a hostile environment. The Nigerian prison system requires significant reform and overhaul," the activist added.

Toyin Taiwo-Ojo, a human rights lawyer, stated that the Federal Government's position on homosexuality is ambiguous.

"The Nigerian government must re-evaluate Bobrisky's detention and consider the long-term implications of their decisions," she told the crowd.