Ministry of Interior order investigation into Bobrisky alleged jail term outside prison

Di Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, don direct unconditional and comprehensive investigation into di allegations of bribery and corruption within Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

Dis dey come afta influencer Martins Vincent Otse aka Very Dark Man for one video wey don circulate on social media bin play audio recording wey involve two pipo.

E claim say na Bobrisky and one pesin bin dey engage in conversation.

For di audio recording, di voice wey Very Dark Man say na Bobrisky own tell di oda pesin on di phone say im pay 15 million naira to unnamed EFCC officers to avoid prosecution for alleged money laundering.

Di voice also claim say di oga of prison service help am avoid spending jail term for prison, and instead na for one apartment wey close to di prison im bin dey.

For im reaction, di crossdresser on Wednesday say no be true say im pay EFCC officers 15 million naira.

"My attention don dey drawn to one fake voice recording circulating on di internet say I pay EFCC 15 million naira and say I no dey for prison," e write on Instagram.

Bobrisky say im serve im jail term in full.

"I no pay any EFCC money, na veri big lie. I serve my term in full, and I come out. Discard any false information."

For one statement wey BBC News Pidgin take eye see, di minister condemn di alleged behaviour and emphasise say any form of "indiscipline, unprofessionalism, and corruption go dey met zero tolerance and severe consequences within di paramilitary services under di ministry purview".

Di minister tok say im ministry no go tolerate any compromise on dia core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

"We go leave no stone unturned in rooting out corruption and ensure say dose found culpable face di full wrath of di law.

"Di Minister don set up a special investigative panel headed by di Permanent Secretary of di Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, to probe dis allegations and submit a comprehensive report," di statement tok.

Oda members of di committee include Dr. Uju Agomuoh of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation And Welfare Action (PRAWA) wey go serve as di Secretary; Mrs Eva Omatese, Director of Legal Ministry of Interior; Mr. Usman Nasiru, Director of Joint Services Ministry of Interior; and Dr. Ikechukwu Ezeugo (Consultant Iyke) of di Brekete Family Show.

For di statement, di minister reassure di public say di investigation go dey rigorous, transparent, and impartial, and say appropriate disciplinary actions go happun against any personnel wey dem find guilty.

On Tuesday, 24 September, di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bin release statement say dem dey investigate di mata of alleged bribery against dia officers to drop money laundering charge against Bobrisky.

"To dis end, di Commission hereby invite both Okuneye and Otse to make demsefs available at dia Lagos Directorate to assist investigators unearth di alleged bribery," di EFCC statement tok.

Falz and Femi Falana ask Very Dark Man to withdraw statement

Di voice wey Very Dark Man bin identify as Bobrisky own for di audio recording also claim say Folarin Falana aka Falz and im papa, Femi Falana (SAN), bin contact di crossdresser say dem fit help am apply for pardon.

Falz and Mr Falana (SAN) deny dis for different statements from dia lawyers, Falana and Falana’s Chambers.

For di video, Very Dark Man say im go dey disappointed if truly Falz and im papa dey involved for di issue.

Falz ask Very Dark Man to withdraw di defamatory statement against am.

For one statement wey di chamber release on Wednesday, 25 September, Falz tok say na Bobrisky call am on 4 May, 2024.

Falz say instead of asking for legal advice, Bobrisky ask am say im need financial assistance of about 3 million naira to pay some officials so dem go permit am to stay for di VIP section of di Correctional Centre.

Di statement tok say Falz advise am say make e no pay di officials and im no give am di money.

"Witout contacting our client, you go ahead to publish a careless statement wey contain multiple allegations including insinuation say our client dey involved in homosexual affair and intend to get presidential pardon for Mr Idris Okuneye," di statement tok.

Falana and Falana's Chambers ask Very Dark Man to withdraw di statement and tender apology on all di platforms wey e take spread di tori.

"Make you dey advised say if we no receive your formal retraction and apology as demanded within 24 (twenty-four) hours of di receipt hereof, we go proceed wit our client instruction to seek appropriate legal remedies, including monetary damages against you for your incendiary publication and dissemination of defamatory statements," di statement add.

For anoda statement, Mr Falana (SAN) through im lawyers say im neva speak wit Bobrisky bifor for im life.

Di ogbonge lawyer ask Very Dark Man to retract im statement and tender public apology within 24 hours in all di platforms wey e take spread am or face lawsuit.

NBA call for different investigations

Di Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) don also tell EFCC say dem gatz ensure say dem find out weda Bobrisky pay officers to drop di money laundering charge against am.

NBA yarn dis one for one statement wey dem release on Wednesday, 25 September, wia dem also call on di Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to respond to di allegation against dem.

Dem also say make di Service provide transparent details on di conditions wey Bobrisky take serve im sentence.

“If e dey proven say im dey allowed to serve im sentence outside a Correctional Facility, in breach of di law and a court order, di officers and officials responsible gatz dey prosecuted and dismissed from service,” di statement tok.

NBA also call on di “Attorney General of di Federation, EFCC, and di Office of di National Security Adviser to independently investigate allegations say Bobrisky allegedly bribe to dey allowed to serve prison term for private residence instead of inside correctional facility, and also di allegation say a bribe dey demanded in exchange for goment pardon”.