ABUJA: A Nigerian popular and controversial Blogger Martins Otse also known as VeryDarkMan on Monday appeared before a House of Representatives panel investigating bribery allegations involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Other persons present are the officials of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCOS) were present as the Committees on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions commenced investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption leveled against the anti-graft agency and the prison service by Verdarkman
The blogger claimed in a widely shared video that controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, paid ₦15 million to the anti-graft agency to have the money laundering charges against him dropped during his April Naira spraying incident. Following this, a court find him guilty and sentenced him to six months in prison.
In addition, the blogger said that Bobrisky spent millions of naira to guarantee a preferred and choice prisoner accommodation.
While the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and the Economic and Financial crime commission (EFCC) have requested inquiries into the blogger’s claims, Bobrisky has subsequently dismissed them.Saying the the allegations are untrue.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) urged Nuhu Ribadu, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), to launch an independent inquiry into claims made by the social media influencer.
Appearing before the Reps Joint Committee on Monday, Anugwa stated that when Bobrisky was brought to the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, he refused to eat the prison rations, preferring to make personal arrangements for his feeding. He added that this practice is guaranteed under the nation’s laws.
Read related news: PDP Chieftain Reveals to EFCC Yahaya Bello’s Whereabouts, ‘He Is Hiding There
On why Bobrisky was kept in a different cell away from other inmates, Anugwa explained, During the admission of the inmate (Bobrisky), we discovered that he had two features. We did not know where to place him because, for instance, he had breasts. We had to take him to Room 2 in the B Ward. This is also in line with global best practices as approved by the United Nations.”
Regarding Bobrisky’s transfer to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Anugwa said, “Friends of Bobrisky bought plastic chairs and brought them to the centre. There was so much media hype that he had to be moved to Kirikiri for security.”
When asked if the donation of chairs could have influenced Bobrisky’s movement from Ikoyi to Kirikiri, Anugwa declined to comment, but added that it is a tradition for inmates to make donations to authorities while in custody.
He denied the allegation that Bobrisky was held outside the walls of a correctional facility, stating, Bobrisky was admitted on April 13, with a valid warrant and a transfer order from Ikoyi Correctional Facility. The warrant was given to me the same day of his conviction.
The biometric was taken the next day because he came around 10:30 PM. Okuneye spent 10 days at a medium correctional centre and was moved to maximum because he refused to eat the prison food and then applied for self-feeding, which was approved.
Bobrisky nominated two people to bring his food to the facility, Abiola Okuneye and Moji Okuneye. During the admission, we discovered that Idris, though a man, had special features like breasts that would not allow us to put him in the general cell. We agreed to put him in a separate cell. While he was there, he had a total of 39 visitors.”
Echoing Anugwa’s position, the Assistant Controller General of NCoS in charge of the Kirikiri Maximum Security Centre, Ben-Rabbi Freeman, said he transported Bobrisky to Kirikiri in his official car.
The transfer from Ikoyi to Kirikiri was purely for security purposes. The inmate (Bobrisky) was taken to the maximum facility in my official car, Freeman said.
The Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has inaugurated an independent investigative panel on Monday to probe the allegation going round in the social media
According to the ministry, the minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi said in his statement, We want to really reform the correctional service. Your core responsibility is to investigate specific allegations of corruption, torture, and mistreatment of inmates by correctional officers, especially the immediate one on Bobrisky which I expect to be out in 2 weeks.
To ensure that every single thing we do conforms with the law, we will rely on your legal advice. We will be depending on you to choose the best course of action and details that will be made available to Nigerians.
I want to make it particularly clear: No one will be protected, regardless of their status, the minister declared
.
