Reps commence probe, prison controllers suspended

The House of Representatives, on Thursday, began a probe into the alleged bribery of officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; as well as officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service by controversial cross dresser, Idris Okuneye, alias Bobrisky, who was convicted and sentenced to prison for naira abuse.

This was as the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, on Thursday, announced the suspension of two deputy controllers in charge of the Kirikiri Medium Custodial Center in Lagos of Bobrisky’s bribery allegations.

Trouble started earlier in the week following a voice note shared by Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, in which Bobrisky was heard claiming that after his conviction and sentencing for abuse of the naira notes in April, his godfather, in collaboration with the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, arranged for him to serve his six-month sentence in a private apartment.

Those suspended according to a memo on Thursday, which was signed by the secretary of the board, Ja’afaru Ahmed, are the Deputy Controller of Corrections In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos State, Michael Anugwa, and Deputy Controller of Corrections In-Charge of MSCC KiriKiri Lagos State, Sikiru Adekunle.

The memo, sighted by our correspondent, read: “Following the viral video trending on social media on alleged infractions by officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service relating to Mr. Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has suspended forthwith the following senior officers of the service:

“Michael Anugwa, DCC, In-Charge of MSCC, Kirikiri, Lagos State; and Sikiru Adekunle, DCC, In-Charge of MSCC, Kiri-kiri, Lagos State.”

According to the memo, an officer serving at the MSCC in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Ogbule Obinna, was also suspended for accompanying an inmate out of the facility.

“Also, the board has suspended ASC II Ogbule Obinna, serving at the MSCC, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, for allegedly accompanying a convicted inmate out of the Custodial Center to a location outside the facility.

“In another related development, the board has equally suspended another senior officer of the Service, Iloafonsi Kevin Ikechukwu, Deputy Controller of Corrections, In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja, for allegedly receiving money on behalf of an inmate, ” the memo added.

Ahmed, however, said their suspension was to allow proper investigation into the allegations against them “while assuring that the outcome would be made public when concluded.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, on Thursday, resolved to investigate the bribery allegations leveled against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigerian Correctional Service by social media influencer, Martins Otse popularly known as VeryDarkMan.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance on Thursday, sponsored by the member representing Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, Patrick Umoh.

Addressing his colleagues, Umoh expressed concern over the widely circulated publication by VeryDarkMan against the EFCC and the NCS.

He said, “The publication alleges that the EFCC dropped money laundry charges against Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, upon collection of the sum of N15,000, 000.

“The publication alleges that Idris Okuneye, upon conviction for abuse and defacing of the naira, by the court, did not serve his time at the Nigeria Correctional Service, but was lodged outside the confines of the service.

“We are disturbed about the damning allegations against Nigerian critical law enforcement agencies, the EFCC and the NCS, established by this hallowed chambers to fight corruption and incarcerate persons convicted of crimes for correctional purposes respectively.”

He added that the negative image and portrayal of Nigeria as a corrupt nation in the publication was one that should not be swept under the carpet.

Following the adoption of the motion, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary session, referred the motion to the Committees on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions.

They are to report to the House within three legislative weeks for further action.