The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has confirmed the arrest of convicted cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, at the Seme Border while attempting to leave the country.
This announcement follows social media reports and an ongoing investigation into allegations that Bobrisky received special treatment during his six-month prison sentence earlier this year.
Kenneth Udo, the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), stated that Bobrisky is a “person of interest” and was intercepted as part of NIS’s border security efforts.
“The Service wishes to inform the public that Okuneye is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action,” Udo said.
He reassured that the NIS remains committed to its responsibility of maintaining professionalism and civility in border management.
Bobrisky’s arrest comes amid allegations raised by social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, who claimed the arrest was related to Bobrisky’s attempt to evade an investigation by the House of Representatives.
“He is allegedly being held by Nigerian Immigration. Let’s wait for Bob to debunk this,” Otse said in a video shared on Instagram.
Meanwhile, a panel set up to investigate claims that Bobrisky was allowed to stay outside the custodial centre during his sentence has dismissed these accusations.
The panel’s report, submitted yesterday, found no evidence that Bobrisky had left the prison during his sentence, which lasted from April 12 to August 5, 2024.
However, the investigation revealed that Bobrisky received certain privileges while in custody, including a specially furnished single cell, access to a television and fridge, frequent visits from friends and family, and a designated inmate to run errands.
The panel also noted that the proper documentation of Bobrisky’s transfer between various Lagos prisons was not completed promptly, with records being backdated to April 12 and April 22, 2024, in violation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Standing Order.
Responding to the report, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo assured that all those found culpable would face disciplinary actions.
“This report will not be swept under the carpet. Any officer who is found wanting will go through the necessary disciplinary processes and will face appropriate sanctions,” the Minister stated.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to reforming the correctional system, ensuring it remains rehabilitative rather than punitive.
The panel’s findings also included a separate allegation involving Abdulrasheed Maina’s son, who allegedly sent money to the personal account of the Kuje Prison Deputy Controller of Prisons, Kelvin Ikechukwu.
The panel confirmed the truth of this allegation and highlighted broader concerns of misconduct within the correctional service.
The Interior Minister affirmed that these developments mark the beginning of a broader effort to reform the Nigerian correctional system, aiming to create a service that is “corrective, transformative, and rehabilitative.”
He underscored that further actions would be taken to address systemic issues, ensuring that the rights of inmates are upheld and that officers who violate the law are held accountable.
