The Federal Government has vowed to hold everyone involved in the alleged bribery scandal surrounding popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, accountable. Speaking during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, marking his one year in office, Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo emphasized that no individual, no matter how highly placed, will escape punishment.
Tunji-Ojo initiated a thorough investigation into the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) following reports that Bobrisky, who was sentenced to prison earlier this year, was allegedly not confined to the correctional center. This sparked a wave of suspensions within the service, with several senior officers removed pending the outcome of the investigation.
On September 26, 2024, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board announced the suspension of key prison officials, including Michael Anugwa and Sikiru Adekunle, who were both Deputy Controllers of Corrections at the Kirikiri Medium and Maximum Security Custodial Centers in Lagos. Additional officers from Ebonyi and Abuja were also suspended over related misconduct, including receiving money and escorting inmates out of the facilities.
Addressing the scandal, Tunji-Ojo called for patience, assuring Nigerians that the investigation will be comprehensive and that everyone implicated will face justice. “We will not spare anybody, no matter how highly placed,” he declared, stressing that the investigation goes beyond the Bobrisky case.
The minister added, “This will continue. It is not just about Bobrisky, but about rooting out corruption within the system.” Tunji-Ojo praised the integrity of the investigation committee, assuring the public that no one will be shielded from accountability.
