UPDATED: Bobrisky didn’t sleep outside prison, served jail term – FG panel

According to a panel of investigators appointed by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, well-known transvestite Idris Okuneye, better known by his stage name Bobrisky, has served out his sentence in prison.

For misusing the naira, Bobriksy was found guilty on April 12 and given a six-month prison sentence. He was allowed to leave prison in August.

A voicemail purportedly belonging to Bobrisky was posted by controversial social critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan. It purportedly stated that she paid N15 million to some officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in order to have the money laundering accusation against Bobrisky dropped.

In the recording, Bobrisky also stated that he was serving his six-month term in a private flat rather than a prison cell by use of a "godfather" and Nigerian Correctional Service employees.

On September 30, the minister authorised an investigation into the allegations of corruption and other infractions against the Nigerian Correctional Service, and established an investigative team led by Magdalena Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.

During the panel's phase one report reading on Monday, Uju Agomoh, the founder and executive director of Prisoners' Rehabilitation and Welfare Action and a panel member, stated that there was no proof Bobrisky had slept outside the jail after her sentence.

"The panel did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Mr. Okuneye slept outside the custodial centre during his imprisonment," he stated. "Mr. Okuneye was sentenced to six months of correctional imprisonment with the usual remission applicable," he said, covering the period of his imprisonment from April 12, 2024, to August 5, 2024.

Bobrisky was moved from the Kuje Custodial Centre to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri-Apapa, Lagos, during this time, according to Agomoh. She was later released from the Maximum Security Custodial Centre after serving her whole term there.

According to him, Bobriksy had a number of benefits while he was housed at both Custodial Centres, including a humidifier, a furnished single cell, and frequent visits from his loved ones.

But according to the panel, the cross-dresser's transfer as a first-time offender to a maximum security institution was against Sections 164A and 164B of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019.

"Mr. Okuneye Idris enjoyed several privileges while in custody, both at the Medium Security and the Maximum Security Custodial Centres," he continued. "These include, in particular, the following: furnished single cells, humidifiers, frequent visits from family and friends, the ability to feed himself, the ability to designate inmates to run errands for him, access to a refrigerator and television, and possibly even access to his phone."

"More research is required to determine whether Okuneye Idris's aforementioned privileges were granted due to financial gain or dishonest correctional official behaviour.

The panel feels that Okunenye Idris's special condition, as well as the inmates' physical appearance and attitude, pose a threat, and that the lack of established guidelines for handling such cases may have made it necessary to offer Okunenye Idris these rights.

The panel suggests that procedures for handling such occurrences in the future be established with precise rules. It is important to take action to stop overt discriminatory behaviours against prisoners based on their socioeconomic class and other factors.