A Lagos chief has alleged Bobrisky bribed prison officials with N35m for VIP treatment during her jail term. EFCC now investigating

[dropcap]A [/dropcap]new wave of controversy has erupted following the recent imprisonment of popular Nigerian crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, as disturbing allegations emerge about a bribery scheme allegedly involving officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

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Chief Babalola Shabi, the Baale of Kirikiri Town in Lagos — widely known as “Baale No-Nonsense” — has accused prison officials of colluding with Bobrisky to secure VIP privileges during her six-month sentence in 2024.

The traditional ruler made the shocking revelation during a town hall meeting hosted by the Lagos State Police Command as part of the National Police Week activities.

According to Chief Shabi, Bobrisky allegedly smuggled eight Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards into the Kirikiri custodial facility and funnelled an estimated N35 million through Point of Sale (POS) operators in the surrounding community.

The funds, he claimed, were used to bribe prison officials in exchange for preferential treatment, including a private residence outside prison walls.

“Before the truth came out, everyone believed Bobrisky was serving her time in Kirikiri. But in reality, she was living comfortably in a private apartment outside the prison, thanks to a criminal collaboration involving certain officials,” Shabi said.

The chief stated that he became suspicious and took matters into his own hands by summoning local POS operators to his palace.

His intervention reportedly led to the involvement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has since launched an investigation into the alleged financial misconduct.

“I personally called in the EFCC after speaking with the POS operators. They traced the transactions and followed the money trail. That’s how the scandal broke open,” Shabi explained.

According to him, the bribery network involved correctional officers who approached POS vendors to process cash withdrawals from Bobrisky’s ATM cards.

The swift movement of such a large sum, he noted, pointed to a well-organised ring of collaborators.

“It was shocking how N35 million could be sourced so quickly from around here. Clearly, this was not a one-man job. The officials involved have now been suspended,” he added.

Chief Shabi revealed that the property where Bobrisky allegedly stayed during her sentence has since been demolished.

He also confirmed that both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the EFCC had invited him for questioning, to which he gave full cooperation.

“As a community leader, I cannot allow this kind of impunity to thrive. I told the DSS and EFCC everything I knew. There must be consequences for such acts,” he said.

His account contradicts an earlier report by a National Assembly panel which had acknowledged that while Bobrisky received special treatment, she remained within the Kirikiri prison premises during her sentence.

Bobrisky was sentenced to six months imprisonment in 2024 for the abuse of the Nigerian currency and was released in August that same year. However, the situation has since taken a new turn.

Controversial social critic Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, recently leaked a voice note purportedly featuring Bobrisky, in which she claimed to have paid N15 million to some EFCC officials to have a money laundering charge dropped.

In the same recording, Bobrisky alleged that a well-connected “godfather” and corrupt correctional officials helped arrange for her to serve her time in a private apartment rather than a prison cell.

The EFCC has yet to release an official statement, but sources indicate that investigations into the allegations are ongoing.

Also read:Bobrisky declares ban on female awards amid legal trou bles

As Nigerians await further developments, the scandal raises serious questions about corruption within the country’s correctional system and the apparent ease with which wealth and influence can undermine the rule of law.