•I didn’t pay money to EFCC —Bobrisky
•FG orders probe of Prisons Service
•NBA demands independent investigation by AGF, NSA

By Benjamin Njoku, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Efe Onodjae, Deborah Okoro & Abolarin Oluwafemi

Controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, is at the centre of the storm again, after he revealed in a viral audio released by activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, that some unnamed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, operatives collected N15 million bribe from him to drop the money laundering charges against him.

Recall that Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison in April by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos after he pleaded guilty to a Naira abuse charge preferred against him by the EFCC. He was released on August 5 after serving his terms.

In a viral audio released yesterday by VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky was heard in a television conversation with an unknown person claiming that some unnamed EFCC operatives collected N15 million from him to drop a money laundering allegation which was initially included in the charges against him.

He also claimed in the audio that he served his six-month prison term in a flat close to the prisons after one of his mentors spoke to the prison boss in Abuja.

Bobrisky was also heard in the audio saying that popular rap star, Folarin Falana also known as Falz attempted to assist him in securing a pardon from the presidency through his father, Femi Falana, SAN, for N10 million.

Viral audio confession fake— Bobrisky

Reacting to the scandal, Bobrisky in an Instagram post yesterday claimed that the viral audio was fake and that he did not bribe any EFCC official to drop money laundering charges against him. He also insisted that he served his jail term inside the prison.

The post read “My attention has been drawn to a fake voice recording circulating on the internet that I paid EFCC 15 million naira, and that I was never in prison… I didn’t pay any EFCC money, which is a very big lie. I served my term in full, and I came out. Discard any false information.”

EFCC probes allegation

Before Bobrisky’s yesterday denial of the bribery allegation, the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale had on Tuesday said that the commission had constituted a team of investigators to critically look into the allegations.

“To this end, the Commission hereby invites both Okuneye and Otse (VeryDarkMan) to make themselves available at its Lagos Directorate to assist investigators unearth the alleged bribery,” he said.

Falz reacts

Reacting to the claim in the audio that he had facilitated legal representation for clemency by the presidency through his father, Femi Falana, Falz yesterday in a letter to Verydarkman demanding an apology for the attempt to tarnish his image, stated that most of the claims in the viral audio were false.

The letter reads in part: “To set the record straight, our client never at any point initiated a conversation with Mr. Idris Okuneye. Our client has documentary evidence that Mr. Okuneye was the one who initiated the call.

“Specifically, on May 4, 2024, Bobrisky contacted our client requesting a phone conversation with him. Our client willingly obliged, believing he might require legal advice regarding the Naira abuse charges against him.

“Mr. Okuneye called shortly after, but instead of seeking legal advice, he stated that he was in distress and needed financial assistance of about N3,000,000 (three million Naira), which he claimed was necessary to pay some officials for permission to stay in the VIP section of the Correctional Centre.

“Our client advised him that there was no need to pay the officials. However, Mr. Okuneye claimed that his lawyers had mishandled his case by advising him to plead guilty to the charges against him. He insisted on his request for money, which our client continuously disapproved.

“Without contacting our client, you proceeded to publish a careless statement containing multiple allegations, including insinuations that our client is involved in a homosexual affair and intended to secure a presidential pardon for Mr. Okuneye. The direct implication of your false, misleading, and defamatory statements is that our client, Mr. Folarin Falana (aka Falz), colluded with Bobrisky to obstruct justice for financial gain.

“The entire publication was a vicious, reckless attempt to impugn the reputation of our client and to tarnish his standing in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public. We, therefore, demand an immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication, as well as a prominently published apology on all platforms where it has been disseminated, without any justification whatsoever.”
FG orders probe of Prisons Service

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has ordered “an unconditional and comprehensive investigation into the allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS”.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja and signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Babatunde Alao

Alao in the statement said the minister unequivocally condemned the alleged reprehensible behaviour, emphasizing that any form of indiscipline, unprofessionalism, and corruption will be met with zero tolerance and severe consequences within the paramilitary services under the Ministry’s purview.

“The Ministry will not tolerate any compromise on its core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability. We will leave no stone unturned in rooting out corruption and ensuring that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law,” Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said.

“The Minister has called for a special investigative team headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, to probe these allegations and submit a comprehensive report.”

NBA demands independent investigation by AGF, NSA

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday described as disturbing, an allegation that officials of the EFCC collected N15 million bribe to drop a money laundering case against Bobrisky.

The legal body, in a statement that was signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, while commending the anti-graft agency for its timely decision to probe the matter, however, demanded an independent investigation by the Attorneys-General of the Federation and the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.

It maintained that an urgent and thorough investigation was needed “to determine whether the bribe was paid or are sometimes paid to influence the nature of charges brought against defendants in criminal cases.”
According to the NBA which is the umbrella body of legal practitioners in the country, “this investigation will also test the transparency of the investigative process and the procedures for charging defendants in court.”

On the claim in the audio against Femi Falana, the NBA president said:

“The NBA acknowledges that applying for a presidential pardon is a legitimate legal recourse available to any convict, as stipulated by law. However, it is crucial to clarify that such a process must follow due procedure and be devoid of any form of influence peddling or unethical practices.

“Femi Falana, SAN, is a highly respected legal practitioner known for his integrity and long-standing commitment to human rights and justice. He has denied the allegation against him. The Nigerian Bar Association urges the public to refrain from making premature conclusions regarding Mr. Falana’s or indeed any person’s alleged involvement in these matters.

“The Nigerian Bar Association reiterates its commitment to upholding justice, fairness, and the rule of law. We will continue to support all efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in our prosecutorial, law enforcement and correctional systems. We also call for calm and restraint while investigations are carried out, and we assure the public that we will monitor these investigations closely to ensure they are conducted in a transparent and unbiased manner.”