WEEKS AFTER the release of popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), new allegations have emerged, pulling back the curtain on what could be one of the boldest cases of privilege-for-pay behind bars in Nigeria’s recent penal history.
The socialite, sentenced in 2024 to a six-month jail term for abusing the naira, was believed to have served his sentence at the Kirikiri custodial facility in Lagos.
However, revelations from a traditional ruler in the area have sparked fresh controversy, raising serious questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s correctional system and the influence of wealth and social standing on justice administration.
The Baale of Kirikiri Town, Chief Babalola Shabi — a known local enforcer of discipline nicknamed “Baale No-Nonsense” — stunned many when he publicly alleged that Bobrisky had smuggled eight ATM cards into the facility.
These cards, he claimed, were used to channel about ₦35 million through Point of Sale (POS) vendors in the Kirikiri area. The funds, according to the traditional leader, were used to bribe prison officials to secure preferential treatment, including housing the crossdresser in a private apartment outside prison walls.
“Before the truth came out, everyone believed he was in Kirikiri serving his time,” Chief Shabi declared at a town hall event hosted by the Lagos State Police Command as part of National Police Week. “But the reality is that Bobrisky was living comfortably outside the prison walls, thanks to a criminal collaboration involving some officials.”
According to the Baale, the revelation was not accidental.
He had, of his own volition, invited POS operators operating around the Kirikiri area to his palace after suspicions arose over large-volume transactions traced back to the socialite. This meeting reportedly prompted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate.
“I personally called in the EFCC after I summoned the POS operators,” he said. “From there, they were able to trace the transactions and decode the money trail.”
The EFCC reportedly retrieved transaction codes from the vendors and traced the source of the funds — implicating both the crossdresser and the NCoS officers allegedly involved. Chief Shabi also disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had interrogated him in the course of the investigation.
These fresh details directly contradict the findings of a panel from the National Assembly which earlier concluded that Bobrisky served his jail term within the premises of the custodial facility, albeit with undue privileges. The lawmakers’ report acknowledged preferential treatment but maintained that the inmate never exited the facility.
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The newly emerged account, however, suggests that Bobrisky spent a significant portion of his sentence in a privately arranged apartment, which Chief Shabi claimed had since been demolished.
“We identified the house where Bobrisky stayed and it has been demolished,” he asserted. “All the prison officials that assisted him out of greed and love of money were suspended.”
This incident, if fully verified, exposes a systemic flaw in Nigeria’s prison system. According to the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019, inmates are to be treated equally, and any preferential treatment that undermines the rehabilitative purpose of incarceration is a violation of national law.
The alleged ₦35 million bribe also raises alarms about the ease with which high-profile individuals can circumvent justice using financial influence. According to data from SalaryExplorer, prison officers with a high school education in Nigeria earn approximately ₦130,000 per month, while those with a certificate or diploma earn about ₦203,000 monthly.
Similarly, WorldSalaries.com reports that the average annual salary for Nigerian prison officers ranges from ₦1,560,800 to ₦2,605,500, depending on years of experience and education level.
These figures underscore the stark contrast between official earnings and the alleged ₦35 million bribe involved in the Bobrisky prison scandal.
According to data from the World Prison Brief, hosted by the Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research, Nigeria has 256 prison establishments, housing a total of 80,183 inmates as of March 2025.
Of these, 66.6% are pre-trial detainees, highlighting the systemic delays in the justice system. The official capacity of the prison system is 50,153, resulting in an occupancy rate of 136.7% — a clear indicator of overcrowding. Despite ongoing reform efforts, issues of underfunding, corruption, and administrative inefficiencies persist, creating fertile ground for illicit arrangements and abuse of due process.
Social media has been ablaze with commentary since the story broke, with many Nigerians expressing outrage at what they perceive as a broken system where the rich and famous operate by different rules.
