NCoS counters prison official, insists he was suspended over Bobrisky ‘bribery’ saga

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has affirmed the suspension of three of its personnel over the bribery allegation against Idris Okuneye, a popular crossdresser known as Bobrisky.

BACKGROUND

Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, had shared an audio in which Bobrisky purportedly claimed that she bribed some officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with N15 million to drop the money laundering charge against her.

Bobrisky was released on August 5, after she was sentenced to six months in prison on April 12 for abusing the naira.

In the purported recording, the crossdresser also allegedly claimed that her “godfather”, alongside prison officials, ensured she served the six-month sentence in a private apartment and not in prison.

On September 26, the federal government announced the suspension of some prison officials over the allegation.

‘AN ACT OF GROSS MISCONDUCT’

On Monday, Michael Anugwa, deputy controller of corrections (DCC) and officer in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri Lagos, told the house of representatives panel that he was not served any suspension letter over the allegation. 

“It was just a social media suspension,” Anugwa told the legislators.

However, in a statement issued after the hearing, Umar Abubakar, assistant controller of corrections, insisted that the officers, including Anugwa, have been suspended.

Abubakar described Anugwa’s remarks as an “act of gross misconduct aimed at misleading the public”.

Abubakar listed the suspended officers as “Sikiru Adekunle, officer-in-charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos; Kevin Iloafonsi, the officer-in-charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, FCT command; Ogbule Obinna, assistant superintendent of corrections (ASC II) of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abakiliki, Ebonyi state; and Anugwa”.

He added that the suspension was conveyed to the various officers accordingly. 

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Correctional Service suspended not only the said officer in the video, but three (3) other officers following their alleged roles in various misconducts so as to allow for further investigation,” the statement reads.

“Recall that two (2) letters were issued by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) with reference Nos: CDCFIB/NCOS/DISP/016/VOL.11/16 and CDCFIB/NCOS/DISP/016/VOL.Il/17 both dated 26th September, 2024, suspending the aforementioned officers.

“The suspension which took effect from the 26th of September, 2024, was conveyed to the various officers accordingly.

“The public is advised to remain resolute as the service would ensure that thorough investigation would be carried out and any person or group of persons found culpable would be punished in line with the Public Service Rules as well as other extant laws.”