A fresh controversy has emerged over the recent imprisonment of popular Nigerian crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky.
Allegations have surfaced claiming that prison officials were involved in a bribery scheme, facilitating VIP treatment for Bobrisky during his time behind bars.
The Baale (traditional ruler) of Kirikiri Town, Chief Babalola Shabi known as “Baale No-Nonsense” has accused Bobrisky of smuggling eight ATM cards into Kirikiri prison.
Shabi claims that Bobrisky used these cards to channel N35 million through local Point of Sale (POS) operators, which was allegedly used to bribe prison officials for special privileges.
This explosive information came to light during a town hall meeting organized by the Lagos State Police Command on Saturday, as part of National Police Week events.
According to Shabi, Bobrisky did not serve his full sentence in the prison but was instead housed in a private apartment outside the facility, an arrangement he suggests was facilitated by corrupt correctional officers.
Shabi revealed, “Before this truth emerged, people believed Bobrisky was in Kirikiri. In reality, he was living outside, thanks to an illicit deal with some prison officials.”
The Baale credited his efforts for bringing the scandal to public attention, explaining how he involved POS operators from his community and invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate. Following the investigation, the EFCC reportedly traced the money trail to Bobrisky.
Describing the operation as highly coordinated, Shabi expressed shock over how quickly the N35 million was accessed. He also confirmed that the implicated correctional officers had been suspended.
The property where Bobrisky was allegedly kept has since been identified and demolished. Both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the EFCC have questioned Shabi as part of the ongoing investigation.
In contrast, earlier reports from a National Assembly panel suggested that Bobrisky remained in prison throughout his sentence, although he was reportedly given preferential treatment. Bobrisky had been sentenced to six months in prison in 2024 for abusing the naira and was released in August 2024.
Additionally, controversial social critic Martins Otse (aka VeryDarkMan) shared an audio message allegedly from Bobrisky, claiming that he paid N15 million to EFCC officials to have money laundering charges dropped.
In the voice note, Bobrisky also mentioned a “godfather” and certain Nigerian Correctional Service staff who arranged his stay in a private apartment rather than in prison.
