More details emerged on what transpired during the six-month jail term of popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky. After being sentenced for spraying naira notes, Bobrisky was first taken to the Ikoyi Custodial Centre on April 12, 2024, before being transferred to the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, due to his growing notoriety.
Sources revealed that after spending some days in the Ikoyi facility, Bobrisky was moved to Kirikiri's Maximum Security Custodial Centre, where he was placed in a special cell reserved for VIP inmates, possibly for safety reasons. This "special cell" was described as a more comfortable arrangement for well-behaved inmates, but it was also used for high-profile detainees like Bobrisky. It was suggested that financial transactions between inmates and prison officials might influence access to such arrangements, with one source stating that such privileges come at a hefty cost.
Though Bobrisky's activities in prison were recorded, reports of preferential treatment have sparked public outrage. The spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Abubakar Umar, denied these claims, insisting that all inmates are treated equally and that such reports would be investigated.
Bobrisky had been in the spotlight following his April 2024 arrest by the EFCC for mutilating naira notes and money laundering. The arrest occurred after a viral video showed him spraying naira notes at a movie premiere in Lagos. He was arraigned at the Federal High Court on six counts, though two were later withdrawn. He pleaded guilty to the remaining charges and was sentenced to six months in prison.
Controversy arose after Bobrisky's release on August 5, 2024, when he hosted a lavish party, claiming he had maintained his looks while in prison. His statements raised doubts about the conditions of his detention, especially after an activist, Martins Otse, accused Bobrisky of defaulting on a N4 million debt borrowed for a private prison arrangement.
Bobrisky has since denied any preferential treatment and disputed allegations that he paid officials to avoid harsher punishment. As the scandal unfolded, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, launched a probe, leading to the suspension of several high-ranking prison officers. These officers were allegedly involved in facilitating preferential treatment, though some correctional officers criticized the decision as a violation of civil service rules, as they had not been given the opportunity to defend themselves.
The EFCC has opened its own investigation into the bribery allegations, calling on Bobrisky and Martins Otse to assist in the inquiry. Despite the growing attention, the Nigerian Correctional Service continues to deny any irregularities in the treatment of VIP inmates.
