Faruq Muhammad, a security consultant based in the Federal Capital Territory and interim national leader of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Movement, has expressed disappointment over the Lagos Police’s failure to prosecute popular influencer Okuneye Idris, better known as Bobrisky, for allegedly violating Nigeria’s anti-gay laws.
Muhammad threatened to take further action to ensure that Bobrisky is held accountable. He stated that he had previously petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, regarding Bobrisky’s activities, which led to a directive for the Lagos State Police Command to investigate the matter. However, he lamented that several months have passed without any progress on the case.
In his petition, Muhammad noted that Bobrisky’s recent social media posts appear to depict sexual acts between men, which he claims contravenes the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act in Nigeria. He referenced two video clips shared on Bobrisky’s verified Facebook account, alleging that the content promotes homosexuality and violates Nigerian law against same-sex relationships.
Muhammad, who has spent a decade advising Nigerian security forces and has received accolades from prominent officials, including the Senate President and the Inspector General of Police, argued that Bobrisky’s actions not only breach the law but also undermine the Nigerian legal system by seemingly flaunting his status as a public figure.
“I took action against Bobrisky to protect Nigeria from potential calamity,” he stated. He criticized the Lagos State Police for allegedly neglecting the IGP’s directive, revealing that they had invited, detained, and subsequently granted bail to Bobrisky on September 4, 2024, without informing him or the public. Muhammad expressed skepticism about the handling of the case, suggesting that there may have been ulterior motives to silence the issue.
“As a patriotic Nigerian from Kano State, I have condemned Bobrisky’s actions and urged the police to address his excesses. However, their inaction raises serious concerns,” he said, referencing the explicit nature of Bobrisky’s posts, including one captioned “Special time with my man,” which was shared on March 1, 2024.
