A new twist has emerged in the saga surrounding the imprisonment of popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, with the Baale of Kirikiri Town, Chief Babalola Shabi, accusing Nigerian Correctional Service officials of facilitating a bribery scheme that allowed the socialite to enjoy preferential treatment outside prison walls.
Speaking at a town hall meeting organized by the Lagos State Police Command on Saturday during National Police Week, Shabi, dubbed “Baale No-Nonsense,” claimed Bobrisky smuggled eight ATM cards into the Kirikiri custodial facility. He alleged that the crossdresser used these to transfer N35 million through local Point of Sale (POS) operators, bribing prison officials to secure a private apartment rather than serve his sentence behind bars.
“Before the truth came out, everyone believed he was in Kirikiri serving his time. But the reality is that Bobrisky was living comfortably outside the prison walls, thanks to a criminal collaboration involving some officials,” Shabi revealed. He credited himself with exposing the scandal by summoning POS operators to his palace, which prompted an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Shabi detailed how correctional officers allegedly worked with POS vendors to withdraw funds from Bobrisky’s cards, describing the operation as a “well-organized ring.”
“It was shocking how N35 million could be sourced from around here so quickly. Clearly, this was not a one-man job,” he said, noting that implicated officials have been suspended.
The traditional ruler added that the property where Bobrisky was allegedly housed has been identified and demolished. He confirmed being questioned by both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the EFCC, stating, “As a community leader, I cannot allow this type of impunity to go unchecked.”
This account contradicts an earlier National Assembly panel report, which acknowledged Bobrisky’s preferential treatment but maintained he remained within the prison premises during his six-month sentence for naira abuse in 2024. Bobrisky was released in August of that year.
The controversy deepened when social critic Martins Otse, alias VeryDarkMan, released an audio purportedly featuring Bobrisky claiming he paid N15 million to EFCC officials to drop a money laundering charge. In the recording, Bobrisky also alleged that a “godfather” and correctional service staff arranged for him to serve his sentence in a private apartment.
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