Fresh controversy has trailed the recent incarceration of popular crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, as a traditional ruler in Lagos has accused officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service of aiding the socialite’s alleged bribery scheme to secure VIP treatment during his stay in prison.
The Baale of Kirikiri Town, Chief Babalola Shabi, popularly called “Baale No-Nonsense,” alleged that Bobrisky smuggled eight Automated Teller Machine cards into the Kirikiri custodial facility and used them to funnel a total of N35 million through Point of Sale operators in the area — reportedly to grease the palms of prison officials for preferential treatment.
Shabi made the revelation during a town hall meeting organised by the Lagos State Police Command on Saturday, as part of events marking the National Police Week.
According to him, the crossdresser never fully served his sentence behind bars but was instead housed in a private apartment outside the custodial centre, allegedly arranged by complicit correctional officials.
He said, “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 stated that it was through his intervention that the scandal was unearthed, adding that he had invited all POS operators in the community to his palace, after which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission swooped in on the matter.
“I personally called in the EFCC after I summoned the POS operators to my palace. From there, they were able to trace the transactions and decode the money trail,” he said.
The traditional ruler explained that the clandestine arrangement involved correctional officers approaching POS vendors to withdraw funds from the crossdresser’s ATM cards.
He said the ease with which the cash was sourced indicated a well-organised ring of collaborators.
“It was shocking how N35 million could be sourced from around here so quickly. Clearly, this was not a one-man job. The officials who aided him have been suspended,” Shabi added.
He further disclosed that the property where Bobrisky was allegedly kept during the period had since been identified and demolished, and that both the Department of State Services and EFCC had interrogated him over the incident.
“The DSS first invited me for questioning, and I told them everything I knew. The EFCC also reached out, and I gave them my full cooperation. As a community leader, I cannot allow this type of impunity to go unchecked,” he said.
His account contradicts a report earlier presented by a National Assembly panel, which had stated that while Bobrisky enjoyed preferential treatment, he remained within the prison premises throughout his term.
The cross dresser was sentenced to six months imprisonment in 2024 for abusing the naira and released from prison in August of that year.
