The House of Representatives on Monday commenced an investigation into the alleged N15 million bribery involving the controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky and the Economic financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The hearing was held by the House Committees on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions following the arrival of Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, and his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
DAILY GIST recalls that VeryDarkMan, through his Instagram page had leaked an alleged audio recording of the crossdresser narrating his six-month jail term experience with a friend.
In the leaked audio, Bobrisky alleged that the EFCC collected N15 million from him to drop the money laundering charges against him.
He also alleged that he served his prison sentence in a private apartment after his godfather contacted the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
In the recording, Bobrisky also claimed that he never spent a day in prison after his conviction, stating that his godfather arranged for him to serve his term in a lodge instead of jail, a comment that implicated the Nigerian Correctional Services.
Before his sentencing, Bobrisky himself had told Justice Abimbola Awogboro that he is a man.
A spokesperson of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) had said Bobrisky will be kept in the male section of the prison facility throughout his six-month imprisonment.
“Since he admitted to being a male in court, then we have to abide by what was submitted in court,” the Gazette quoted a correctional spokesperson.
“He shouldn’t be afraid of sexual assault from other male inmates because our men can give him protection,” the spokesperson added.
But the Nigerian Correctional Service has now revealed that Bobrisky, was not placed in a male prison cell due to his distinctly female physical features.
Mr Anugwa explained that Bobrisky’s admission into the prison system presented unique challenges.
“During the admission, we discovered Idris has peculiar features that did not allow us to put him in the general cell,” he stated, referencing Bobrisky’s feminine attributes, and saying “Idris had female features like breast.”
To back this claim, Mr Anugwa presented a medical examination conducted by a practitioner, confirming Bobrisky’s female-like features.
He also said that in accordance with both Nigerian laws and international human rights standards set by the United Nations, the decision was made to transfer Bobrisky to protective custody.
He added that the crossdresser was assigned to B Ward, Room Two of the facility, where he stayed alone to avoid any issues that could arise from placing him with the general male population.
Mr Anugwa stated that Bobrisky refused to eat the regular prison food and instead requested self-feeding, a right allowed by the law.
“He nominated two people, Abiola Okuneye and Moji Okuneye, to bring him food,” the official added.
An official who spoke for The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Bilikisu Bala said the money laundering charges dropped in the trial of Idris Okuneye (a.k.a Bobrisky) complied with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Bala, who headed the prosecution team that handled Okuneye’s trial, stated that the charges were dropped based on the disclosure of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, that Okunenye’s firm, Bob Express, was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business, and Profession, and could not be prosecuted for flouting provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention & Prohibition Act, 2022.
A statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said Bala disclosed this on Monday at the Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating allegations of corruption against some officers of the commission, and the Nigeria Correctional Service.
Addressing the Reps committee, Bala said,“ We initially raised six count charges bordering on naira abuse and money laundering against Okuneye based on his confessional statement that his firm, Bob Express, was not registered with SCUML and was not rendering returns to it.
Counts 1-4 were on Naira Abuse while counts five and six were on money laundering. Okuneye’s confession that he didn’t register his firm, Bob Express with SCUML and did not render returns to it informed the money laundering charges initially included in the six-count. However, when we wrote to SCUML on the status of the firm, the Unit responded that it was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business or Profession.
“We cannot lawfully sustain the charges in all sincerity. We, therefore dropped them and relied on the four counts on Naira mutilation to which Okuneye had pleaded guilty.
The prosecutor dismissed claims of financial inducement in dropping charges maintaining that no such thing happened. “There is simply no basis for that.”
She said, “The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, allows amendment of charges. It is a professional practice. It is laughable for anyone to attribute our decision to monetary issues. Why did we write to SCUML if we didn’t want to include the charges? We wrote to be lawfully guided and when the Unit responded that the firm had not breached any law, on what basis should we have retained the money laundering charges?”.
it was noted that Bobrisky, the central figure of the case, was conspicuously absent from the hearing; his lawyer appeared on his behalf, claiming his client’s absence due to illness. The lawmakers, in response, asked why Bobrisky’s lawyer didn’t come along with a ‘sick letter’ to prove that Bobrisky was indeed ill.
When he appeared before the Reps committee on Monday, VDM declined to proceed with his testimony, citing the absence of Bobrisky from the hearing.
“If I say anything, let me die,” said VDM who arrived at the green chamber in traditional attire, accompanied by his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
He was to testify on allegations that Bobrisky bribed EFCC officials with N15m.
Ola Olukoyode, EFCC chairman, was represented at the hearing by his chief of staff, Michael Nzekwe, and Nababa was also present, but Bobrisky’s absence brought the proceedings to a standstill.
Avwerosuoghene Omuvwie, Bobrisky’s lawyer, was in attendance, but because of Bobrisky’s absence, VDM to refused to testify.
“I will not speak until Bobrisky is here,” VDM declared, which prompted calls from some lawmakers to have him arrested for defying the oath he took.
However, Adeyanju backed his client’s decision, stating, “Bob must be here for us to present the evidence.”
Despite pressure from the committee to proceed, VDM remained silent and later left the podium
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