The House of Representatives launched an investigation on Thursday into the alleged bribery of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials as well as Nigerian Correctional Service officials by controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, alias Bobrisky, who was convicted and sentenced to prison for naira abuse.
This came as the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board confirmed on Thursday the suspension of two deputy controllers in charge of the Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre in Lagos following Bobrisky’s bribery claims.
Trouble began earlier this week with a voice note shared by Martins Otse, a.k.a. VeryDarkMan, in which Bobrisky claimed that after his conviction and sentencing for abuse of naira notes in April, his godfather, in collaboration with the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, arranged for him to serve his six-month sentence in a private flat.
The Deputy Controller of Corrections In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos State, Michael Anugwa, and Deputy Controller of Corrections In-Charge of MSCC KiriKiri, Lagos State, Sikiru Adekunle, were suspended on Thursday, according to a memo signed by the board’s secretary, Ja’afaru Ahmed.
The memo, seen by our correspondent, read: “Following the viral video trending on social media on alleged infractions by officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service relating to Mr. Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board has suspended the following senior officers of the service: Michael Anugwa, DCC, In-Charge of MSCC, Kirikiri, Lagos State; and Sikiru Adekunle, DCC, In-Charge of MSCC, Kirikiri, Lagos State.”
According to the memo, Ogbule Obinna, an officer at the MSCC in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, was also suspended after following an inmate out of the facility.
“Also, the board has suspended ASC II Ogbule Obinna, serving at the MSCC, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, for allegedly accompanying a convicted inmate out of the Custodial Centre to a location outside the facility.
“In another related development, the board has equally suspended another senior officer of the service, Iloafonsi Kevin Ikechukwu, Deputy Controller of Corrections, In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja, for allegedly receiving money on behalf of an inmate,” the memo added.
Ahmed, however, said their suspension was to allow proper investigation into the allegations against them “while assuring that the outcome would be made public when concluded.”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, on Thursday, resolved to investigate the bribery allegations levelled against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service by social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, VDM.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance on Thursday, sponsored by Hon. Patrick Umoh, the member representing Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking to his colleagues, Umoh expressed concern over the widely circulated publication by VeryDarkMan against the EFCC and the NCS.
He said, “The publication alleges that the EFCC dropped money laundering charges against Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, upon collection of the sum of N15,000, 000.
“The publication alleges that Idris Okuneye, upon conviction for abuse and defacing of the naira by the court, did not serve his time at the Nigeria Correctional Service but was lodged outside the confines of the service.
“We are disturbed about the damning allegations against Nigerian critical law enforcement agencies, the EFCC and the NCS, established by these hallowed chambers to fight corruption and incarcerate persons convicted of crimes for correctional purposes, respectively.”
He stated that the publication’s harsh representation of Nigeria as a corrupt nation should not be ignored.
Following the passage of the proposal, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary session, submitted it to the Committees on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions.
They are required to report to the House within three legislative weeks for further action.
