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The House of Representatives Committee investigating corruption allegations involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has announced plans to visit their Lagos offices on Monday, October 21, 2024.
This follows allegations made by Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, in a phone recording obtained by social media influencer Martins Otse, also called VeryDarkMan.
The recording has sparked a series of investigations.
Committee Chairman Ginger Onwusibe confirmed the upcoming visit as part of an ongoing probe into the claims. Earlier, on October 1, the committee had questioned officials from the EFCC, NCoS, and Otse over accusations that Bobrisky paid N15 million to have money laundering charges against him dismissed.
Bobrisky’s legal troubles began when the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced him to six months in prison on April 5, 2024, for naira abuse. However, he was released by August 5, 2024, amid rumors of preferential treatment during his imprisonment.
Following public outcry, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo launched an investigation and suspended two senior correctional officials, including Michael Anugwa, Deputy Controller of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, and Sikiru Adekunle, Deputy Controller of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, both located in Kirikiri, Lagos.
During the hearing, Otse presented an audio clip in which Bobrisky allegedly claimed he had never spent a night in prison but instead stayed in a private apartment, facilitated by a large payment. “He never spent a single night in prison after parting with a significant sum of money,” Otse claimed.
EFCC and NCoS officials present at the hearing denied any bribery or favoritism in Bobrisky’s case. However, shortly after the hearing, Otse released another audio, where Bobrisky allegedly discussed paying N5 million out of an N10 million deal with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to secure a government pardon.
Bobrisky purportedly stated that his accounts were frozen by the EFCC, preventing him from raising the full sum for the SAN, who had submitted a pardon request.
In the recording, Bobrisky is heard saying, “Truth be told, I’m not in prison. My godfather arranged for me to stay in an apartment, and they made sure I wouldn’t set foot in prison.”
Otse, during the hearing, demanded that Bobrisky be summoned for a public session to address these allegations. His initial refusal to testify until Bobrisky was also called led to drama, but he eventually agreed after receiving assurances from the committee.
Committee Chairman Onwusibe noted that a date for Bobrisky’s public hearing would be set after the investigative visit to Lagos prisons and the EFCC office. He said, “We will visit the correctional centre and EFCC in Lagos next Monday. Once we conclude the visit, the hearing will resume.”