A new controversy has arisen regarding the recent incarceration of popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, with a Lagos traditional ruler accusing officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service of assisting the socialite in a bribery scheme that secured him preferential treatment while in custody.
The Baale of Kirikiri Town, Chief Babalola Shabi, commonly referred to as “Baale No-Nonsense,” alleged that Bobrisky smuggled eight ATM cards into the Kirikiri Correctional Centre and used them to transfer N35 million through local Point of Sale (POS) operators.
The funds were reportedly used to bribe prison officials to offer him special treatment.
Shabi made these claims during a town hall meeting held by the Lagos State Police Command on Saturday, part of National Police Week events.
He further revealed that Bobrisky did not serve his time behind bars but instead was housed in a private property, arranged by corrupt prison officials.
“Before the truth came out, many believed he was in Kirikiri serving his sentence. But the reality is that Bobrisky was living outside the prison, thanks to some prison officials,” Shabi explained.
The traditional leader also stated that it was his intervention that led to the uncovering of the scandal. He revealed that after gathering the POS operators in the community, he alerted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which tracked the financial transactions linked to Bobrisky.
“I personally reached out to the EFCC after speaking with the POS operators. They followed the financial trail and uncovered the source of the money,” he said.
Shabi explained that the scheme involved correctional officers instructing POS vendors to withdraw funds from Bobrisky’s ATM cards. He pointed out that the rapid availability of the N35 million suggested a well-organized network of collaborators.
“It was shocking to see how quickly N35 million was raised. This was clearly not a one-man operation. The officials involved have been suspended,” Shabi added.
He further disclosed that the property where Bobrisky was allegedly kept had been located and demolished.
Both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the EFCC have questioned him regarding the incident.
“The DSS initially invited me for questioning, and I provided them with all the information I had. The EFCC also contacted me, and I fully cooperated. As a leader of the community, I could not let such an abuse of power go unchallenged,” Shabi stated.
This revelation contradicts an earlier report by a National Assembly panel, which suggested that although Bobrisky received special treatment, he remained within the prison grounds throughout his sentence.