The House of Representatives Committee conducting a thorough probe into the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) will visit the Lagos offices of both agencies on Monday, October 21, 2024.
The investigation follows controversial claims made by crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, which surfaced through a recorded telephone conversation released by social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan.
The Chairman of the investigating committee, Ginger Onwusibe, confirmed the planned visit to Punch, stating that the committee aims to gather more information regarding the allegations.
On October 1, the panel interrogated officials from the EFCC, NCoS, and Otse regarding claims that Okuneye allegedly paid ₦15 million to drop money laundering charges against him.
Bobrisky was convicted on April 5, 2024, by the Federal High Court in Lagos and sentenced to six months in prison for the abuse of the naira. He regained his freedom on August 5, 2024, amid allegations of receiving preferential treatment while in custody.
Following the developments, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered an investigation and suspended Deputy Controller of Corrections Michael Anugwa, in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, and Deputy Controller Sikiru Adekunle, in charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, both located in Kirikiri, Lagos State.
During the panel’s hearing, Otse presented an audio recording in which Bobrisky claimed he did not actually spend time in a prison facility but stayed in a private apartment during his incarceration, allegedly after paying a substantial sum. The EFCC and NCoS officials present denied the allegations.
A week after his testimony, Otse released another audio clip where Okuneye claimed he paid ₦5 million upfront to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in an attempt to secure a federal pardon over the money laundering charges filed against him.
In the audio, Bobrisky allegedly stated, “I’m not in prison, but I’m around there… they got me an apartment because of my godfather.”
Before consenting to speak at the hearing, Otse initially resisted, demanding that Bobrisky face the public similarly. After discussions involving his counsel, Deji Adeyanju, and committee members, he agreed to cooperate with the investigation, pending assurances that Bobrisky would also be required to tell his side of the story publicly.
Speaking with Punch on Monday on when the panel would invite Bobrisky for questioning, Onwusibe, who represents Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency of Abia State, said a date would be fixed as soon as the committee returned from a visit to Lagos.
“We are visiting the correctional centre in Lagos and the EFCC office in Lagos on Monday next week (October 21). After our visit, we shall resume hearing,” he said.
