The Nigerian Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered a thorough investigation into allegations of bribery within the Nigerian Correctional Service. This comes on the heels of a voice note shared by Martins Otse, a.k.a. VeryDarkMan, in which Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, claimed 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.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who denied any involvement with Bobrisky, gave VeryDarkMan a 24-hour ultimatum to retract the statement he made linking him to Bobrisky. Falana’s lawyer stated in their letter to VeryDarkMan demanding a retraction and an apology. In a voice note played online by VeryDarkMan, a voice, believed to be Bobrisky’s, was heard saying: “There’s jealousy involved. When I got to court, I admitted guilt, hoping for either a fine or community service. However, the court sentenced me. On my way to prison, my godfather called and assured me I wouldn’t enter prison. He told me not to worry and said he would arrange an apartment near the prison and speak to the Comptroller General of Prisons in Abuja. After they spoke, I was taken to an apartment where I was told not to come out until I finished my sentence. They informed the person at the apartment that their boss instructed them to keep me there and not let me leave. The person said he’d collect N10m, so I had to call Elele again. Elele gave me N2m because there was no one else to call.”
In the same viral voice note, Bobrisky also allegedly claimed that he paid a N15m bribe to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to drop money laundering charges against him, leaving only abuse of naira charges, of which he was convicted and sentenced. According to the voice note, he also allegedly claimed to have been contacted by the rap musician, Falz, and his human rights lawyer father, Falana, who proposed to help him seek the Federal Government’s pardon for a N10m fee.
Reacting to the raging controversy in a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Alao Babatunde, the interior minister ordered an immediate probe, stressing that no form of indiscipline would be condoned under his watch. The minister has directed an unconditional and comprehensive investigation into the allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Magdalene Ajani, will head the team investigating the allegations. The minister reassures the public that the investigation will be rigorous, transparent, and impartial, and that appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken against any personnel found guilty.
Falana has written a pre-action letter to VeryDarkMan, who disseminated the vote note, demanding a retraction of the alleged defamatory statement against him. In a letter, written on his behalf by Taiwo Olawanle of Falana and Falana Chambers, the SAN gave the social media influencer 24 hours to retract the statement and tender an apology or he would face legal action.
