A prominent traditional leader in Lagos State has made explosive allegations against officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), accusing them of facilitating a bribery scheme that allowed controversial social media personality and crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, to enjoy luxurious treatment while serving a prison sentence.
Chief Babalola Shabi, the Baale (traditional head) of Kirikiri Town, disclosed the claims during a town hall meeting organized by the Lagos State Police Command. According to Chief Shabi, Bobrisky, who was sentenced to six months� imprisonment in 2024 for defacing the Nigerian currency�an offense involving the abuse of the naira�did not serve his time under the harsh conditions typical of the custodial center.
Instead, Shabi alleged that Bobrisky was covertly accommodated in a private apartment arranged by complicit prison officials within or near the Kirikiri Correctional Facility. He further claimed that the influencer smuggled no fewer than eight Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards into the facility, which were then used to funnel approximately ?35 million through local Point of Sale (POS) agents. The money, according to the traditional ruler, was used to systematically bribe correctional officers in exchange for preferential treatment.
Chief Shabi said he became suspicious of unusual financial activity in the community and, following a series of observations and reports from local POS operators, invited several of them to his palace for questioning. Upon investigation, he alerted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which then tracked the suspicious transactions back to Bobrisky.
As a result of the investigation, several correctional officers allegedly involved in the bribery ring have been suspended from duty pending further inquiries. Additionally, the private property where Bobrisky was reportedly kept during his supposed imprisonment has been identified and subsequently demolished.
Shabi noted that the Department of State Services (DSS) and EFCC officials have both questioned him in connection to the case, further validating the seriousness of the allegations. His revelations stand in stark contrast to an earlier report from a National Assembly panel, which had acknowledged that Bobrisky received special treatment during incarceration but maintained that he remained within the confines of the prison facility throughout the duration of his sentence.
This discrepancy has sparked a fresh wave of controversy over the integrity and accountability of Nigeria�s correctional system. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to express outrage, calling for a more transparent investigation and for all those found culpable to face appropriate legal consequences.
Bobrisky, known for his flamboyant persona and massive online following, was released from custody in August 2024 after completing what was supposed to be a six-month jail term. However, the new revelations have cast doubt on the legitimacy of his sentence and raised troubling questions about the extent of corruption within Nigeria�s prison system.
As the EFCC and DSS continue their probe, the scandal underscores the broader challenges of prison reform and the urgent need to curb institutional corruption, especially where high-profile individuals are involved.
Chief Shabi has reiterated his commitment to justice and accountability, urging both state and federal authorities to ensure that the matter is not swept under the rug. “This is not just about Bobrisky,� he said during the meeting. �It is about protecting the integrity of our justice system. No one should be above the law.”
