More Trouble For Bobrisky As FG Panel Indicts Him, Prison Officials

osazuwaakonedo

More Trouble For Bobrisky As FG Panel Indicts Him, Prison Officials   https://osazuwaakonedo.news/more-trouble-for-bobrisky-as-fg-panel-indicts-him-prison-officials/22/10/2024/  #Breaking News #Bobrisky #FG #NIS #prison #VeryDarkMan ©October 22nd, 2024 ®October 22, 2024 9:34 am There seems to be more trouble for Nigeria popular cross dresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky as the Federal Government, FG Investigative Panel set up by the Ministry of Interior says there were backdated documents of his transfer from one correctional centre to another and there was concern for possible act of corruption among prison officials following the kind of preferential or special treatments given to the cross dresser, this appeared to be  against the widely circulated media reports on Monday by some media houses which apparently to have wrongly or under reported the findings of the FG panel. #OsazuwaAkonedo

Transcript

00:00There seems to be more trouble for Nigeria's popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobriski

00:06as the federal government.

00:08FG investigative panel set up by the Ministry of Interior says there were bug-dated documents

00:13of his transfer from one correctional center to another and there was concern for possible

00:17act of corruption among prison officials following the kind of preferential or special treatment

00:22given to the cross-dresser.

00:24This appeared to be against the widely circulated media reports on Monday by some media houses

00:29which apparently to have wrongly or under-reported the findings of the FG panel.

00:34The federal government investigative panel did not dismiss the allegation that Bobriski

00:39served his jail term outside the prison wall.

00:42The panel only said there was no evidence to back the claim, as it is yet to complete

00:47the investigation which it promised to embark on its second phase next year.

00:52But, a careful study of the panel preliminary findings suggest Bobriski apparently served

00:57his jail term outside the prison wall because, according to the FG panel, prison officials

01:02were found wanting of falsifying and bug-dating documents of Bobriski transfer from one correctional

01:07center to another.

01:09The Ministry of Interior in a press release on Monday clarifies the findings of the investigative

01:15panel with the Minister of Interior assuring the public to make officials involved to face

01:20disciplinary action.

01:22Nigeria Immigration Service.

01:24NIS has stated in a press release on Monday that its men arrested Bobriski while trying

01:30to flee the country at Sebe border.

01:33NIS' statement reads and in quote, in keeping with its commitment to securing the borders,

01:39Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, intercepted Okuni Idris Olanrewaju otherwise known as

01:45Bobriski at the Sebe border over an attempt to exit the country.

01:49The service wishes to inform the public that Okuni Idris is a person of interest over recent

01:55issues of public concern.

01:58He is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities

02:03for further action.

02:05The service assures the public that it will continue to be civil and professional in its

02:10statutory responsibility of manning the country's borders.

02:14ECIKT Udo, Nigeria Immigration Service Public Relations Officer stated in the statement.

02:22There were media reports on Monday that the federal government's investigative panel has

02:27claimed popular cross-dresser Idris Okuniye, also known as Bobriski, of allegations that

02:33she abandoned her jail time.

02:35Bobriski purportedly claimed in the audio that his sentence was cushioned by high-level

02:40officials, including the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru

02:45Nababa, allowing him to serve time in a private residence rather than in prison.

02:51The panel's report, released on Monday, October 21, confirmed that there was no evidence to

02:57support claims that Bobriski spent part of her six-month prison sentence outside Kirikiri

03:03Correctional Center, according to the media reports.

03:07Bobriski had been sentenced on April 12, 2024, for Naira mutilation and released on

03:14August 5, 2024.

03:16The investigation followed allegations from activist Veridakman, who accused Bobriski

03:22of spending her sentence in a lodge rather than at the Kirikiri facility, citing influence

03:28from a powerful godfather.

03:30Veridakman also released an audio recording in which Bobriski allegedly claimed to have

03:35bribed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, officials with 15 million

03:41nairas to drop money-laundering charges.

03:44In response, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, ordered a probe into the

03:50claims.

03:51On September 30, he established an investigative panel chaired by Magdalena Ajani,

03:58Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, to investigate corruption and misconduct

04:03within the Nigerian Correctional Service.

04:07The Ministry of Interior, in a press release on Monday titled, FG Unveils First Warn Report

04:13on Correctional System Reforms, stated in quote thus,

04:17The public presentation of the first warn report of the Independent Investigative Panel

04:22on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, Cruel, Inhumane, and Degrading Treatment

04:30within the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCOS, held on Monday the 21st of October 2024

04:37at Honorable Minister's Conference Hall, Abuja.

04:41In his remarks at the unveiling of the first warn report, the Honorable Minister,

04:46Honorable Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, commended the panel for its thorough and diligent work,

04:51which began three weeks ago with a commitment to transparency and institutional reform.

04:57He reiterated the Ministry's stance on zero tolerance for corruption, abuse of power,

05:03and any form of human rights violations, stressing that the investigation is part

05:08of a broader effort to build a transformative correctional service.

05:13The Nigerian Correctional Service is a key institution within our justice system and

05:18national security architecture, and we will not condone any form of cruelty,

05:23inhumane treatment, or malfeasance, the Minister stated.

05:28Dr. Tunji Ojo assured that officers found comparable would first appropriate disciplinary

05:33actions and that this initiative marked the beginning of a comprehensive reform to create

05:38a rehabilitative and corrective correctional service.

05:42We have a duty to ensure that our correctional institutions are places of rehabilitation

05:48and not of suffering.

05:50This report is a first step in a long journey to restore integrity and human rights in our

05:55correctional system.

05:57We will not tolerate any form of misconduct or abuse within our custodial facilities,

06:03he reiterated.

06:05In the same vein, Chairman of the Committee and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of

06:10Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to ensuring accountability

06:16and transparency throughout the reform process, noting that this first phase of the report

06:22serves as a foundational step towards achieving best practices in line with international

06:27standards for correctional services.

06:29The report findings, presented by the Secretary of the Investigative Panel, Dr. Ojo Agomo,

06:36highlighted several critical issues uncovered during the first one of the investigation.

06:42The Committee investigated allegations regarding the treatment and privileges granted to Idris

06:48Okunye, popularly known as Bob Risky, during his recent incarceration.

06:53The panel did not find any evidence that suggested that he slept outside the custodial center

06:59during the period of his imprisonment.

07:02The panel also noted that there were irregularities in his transfers between custodial centers,

07:08including validated documentation.

07:11Additionally, Okunye enjoyed privileges such as a furnished single cell, frequent visits,

07:17and access to amenities, raising concerns about possible preferential treatment and

07:23corruption.

07:24On the allegation of financial misconduct involving the family of a former chairperson

07:29of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdul Rashid Maino, the Committee confirmed that

07:35funds were transferred to the personal account of the officer in charge at Kuje Custodial

07:39Center, Deputy Comptroller of Corrections Kelvin Ikechukwu, by Mayno's son, allegedly

07:45for the welfare of the inmate.

07:47This action was deemed unethical and a violation of the regulations governing correctional

07:53officers.

07:54The report also highlighted systemic issues, including widespread allegations of corruption,

08:00indiscipline, human rights violations, and poor welfare conditions for both inmates and

08:07correctional staff.

08:08The panel noted that these issues were exacerbated by the underfunding of the Nigerian Correctional

08:14Service and the poor working conditions of its officers.

08:18The Committee further recommended urgent reforms, including clear operational guidelines,

08:24improved training for custodial officers, and measures to eliminate discriminatory practices

08:30based on inmates' socioeconomic status.

08:33It announced that the next phase of its work would involve broader investigations, public

08:39hearings, and the solicitation of memoranda from stakeholders to ensure transparency and

08:44public involvement in the reform process.

08:48The first two reports will be presented within the next year, with a focus on addressing

08:53systemic challenges and implementing sustainable reforms.

08:57On behalf of the Committee, we hereby present the report on page 1 of the investigative

09:13panel on Nigerian Correctional Services.

09:27Thank you, sir.

09:45Here's the first phase report of the independent investigative panel on the alleged corruption,

09:54abuse of power, torture, cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment against the Nigerian

10:01Correctional Service, which has been submitted today to the Honorable Minister of the Interior,

10:07Honorable Dr. Oludemi Tunji Ojo.

10:11The executive summary of this interim report, which is the phase one report of the panel,

10:16focuses on the findings in relation to the investigation into specific cases, namely

10:23Mr. Idris, who is widely known as Bob Risky, and to verify if he served his sentence in

10:31the Nigerian Correctional Service custodial sentence, and to ascertain the veracity of

10:37the claim that an inmate in Kuje custodial center was intimidated, threatened, and defrauded

10:44by the office held in charge.

10:46It also highlighted other alleged violations by correctional offices which require further

10:53investigation as well as effective solutions.

10:57The finding of the panel thus far shows the following.

11:02One, the panel did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Mr. Idris Ukunye slept

11:12outside the custodial center during the period of his imprisonment, which was from 12th April

11:182024 to the 5th August 2024, with a six-month correctional sentence with the usual remission

11:27applicable.

11:29During this period, he was transferred from the Kuje custodial center to Medium Security

11:35Kuje Custodial Center, Kikwia Bapa, Lagos, on 12th April.

11:42On 22nd April 2024, he was transferred from Medium Security Kuje Custodial Center, Kikwi,

11:50to the Maximum Security Kuje Custodial Center, from where he was discharged after completion

11:55of his sentence on 5th August 2024.

11:59The State Controllers of Corrections have the power by law to transfer an inmate from

12:06one custodial center to another within the same state.

12:11Proper documentation of Ukunye Idris was not made parallel or as he was being transferred

12:20from Kuje Custodial Center to Medium Security Kuje Custodial Center, Kikwia Bapa,

12:29to the Maximum Kuje Custodial Center, Kikwia Bapa, Lagos.

12:33The documents were later provided on 28th September 2024 and backdated to 12th April

12:422024 and 22nd April 2024, respectively.

12:47These are in violation of sections 168 and 169 of the Nigerian Correctional Service Standing

12:56Order Custodia.

12:58The transfer of Mr. Ukunye Idris from the Medium Security Kuje Custodial Center, Lagos,

13:05to the Maximum Security Kuje Custodial Center, Lagos, being a first offender, violated section

13:12164A and section 164B of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019.

13:21The panel also found that Mr. Ukunye Idris enjoyed several privileges while in custody,

13:29both at the Medium Security and the Maximum Security Custodial Centers, which include

13:36especially the following, furnished single cells, humidifier, lots of visits by his family

13:44members and friends as he desired, visit by his family members and friends held inside

13:51the office of the in-charge of the custodial center, floor rug, self-feeding, designated

13:58inmates to run errands for him, access to fridge and television, and possibly access

14:04to his phone.

14:06It is necessary to further investigate if the above privileges provided for Ukunye

14:13Idris were financially motivated and based on corrupt practices by correctional officers.

14:21The panel believes that the peculiar case of the inmates and the inmates' physical

14:26look and behavior pose a threat and the lack of laid down rules for the treatment of such

14:33a case may have necessitated such privileges to be granted to Ukunye Idris.

14:40On the issue of Abdi Rashid, Miner's son, sending money to the personal account of the

14:48Kuje Custodial Center in-charge, who is the Deputy Controller of Corrections, Kevin

14:54Ilafonsi Ikechubu.

14:56This was found to be true.

14:58The panel is of the view that DCC Kevin Ilafonsi Ikechubu acted unethically and brought himself

15:08and the Nigerian Correctional Service to great disrepute by requesting and receiving money

15:15into his personal account from Abdi Rashid, Miner's son.

15:38The Nigerian Correctional Service is a key institution within our justice system.

15:43And within even the national security architecture, the Nigerian Correctional Service is a very,

15:49very key institution.

15:50And therefore, any form of corruption, any form of malfeasance, any form of abuse of

15:57power, torture, cruelty in women and degrading treatment will never be accepted.

16:04So for us, we have started the journey.

16:07Whoever the officer might be, I don't care where he's from, he will find one thing.

16:13According to this report, we will pass through the necessary disciplinary process of the

16:18board and we will make sure that those officers, their actions are met with the sort of sanctions

16:25and discipline that the law demands.

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