Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, popularly known as Bobrisky, has stirred controversy following reports that she served only three weeks of her six-month prison sentence for naira abuse, which was imposed in April. According to FIJ NG, a social media user named Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, revealed a phone conversation in which Bobrisky allegedly admitted to paying N15 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to have money laundering charges against her dismissed.
This revelation has sparked renewed discussions about corruption within Nigerian prisons, prompting Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to call for an “unconditional and comprehensive investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption” within the Nigerian Correctional Service. Reports indicate that Bobrisky was initially incarcerated at Kirikiri Prison in April but was released after just three weeks, officially regaining her freedom in August. This situation raises significant concerns about the integrity of the justice system and the potential influence of wealth in navigating legal consequences.
A prison official stated, “Bob spent only three weeks here with us in Kirikiri before she was taken out to another place we don’t know. That was where she spent her time; it was an ‘arrange thing’. And money was involved.”
The source further elaborated that Bobrisky received preferential treatment during her incarceration, noting, “She was guarded like a president,” and mentioned that she resided in a special cell. They confirmed the legitimacy of the payment she referred to.
These assertions are consistent with findings from a 2019 undercover investigation conducted by FIJ founder ‘Fisayo Soyombo, which revealed that it was possible to pay for luxuries such as furnished cells and the ability to smuggle in prohibited items while imprisoned.
An incident involving a video call underscored the peculiar circumstances surrounding Bobrisky’s imprisonment, as a fellow inmate inadvertently recorded her during a call, resulting in severe repercussions for him.
Confusion ensued when James Brown, another crossdresser, claimed to have visited her.