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Nigerian transgender figure Bobrisky, whose real name is Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, reportedly spent only three weeks in Kirikiri Prison despite a six-month sentencing for naira abuse imposed in April. This revelation was made public in a phone conversation shared by social media user Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, in which Bobrisky allegedly admitted to serving her sentence outside of the prison in exchange for a N15 million payment to clear her name of ‘money laundering’ charges with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The shocking claims have reignited discussions about corruption within Nigeria's prison system, prompting Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to announce a comprehensive investigation into the alleged bribery and misconduct among the Nigerian Correctional Service personnel.
According to sources who spoke with FIJ, although Bobrisky was initially incarcerated at Kirikiri in April, her time there was cut short to just three weeks, with her official release not occurring until August. A prison official reported, "Bob spent only three weeks here with us in Kirikiri before she was taken out to another place we don’t know. That was where she spent her time; it was an 'arrangee thing.' And money was involved."
The source also revealed that Bobrisky was granted extraordinary privileges while incarcerated, stating, "She was guarded like a president throughout her time here and lived in a special cell. The money she mentioned definitely changed hands."
These allegations echo findings from a 2019 undercover investigation by FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo, who noted that wealth could buy comforts typically not available to ordinary inmates, including luxuries like furnished accommodations, prohibited items, and even the opportunity to live outside prison walls while purportedly serving a sentence.
Additionally, the prison official recalled a notable incident involving a prison inmate who mistakenly filmed Bobrisky during a video call, resulting in severe punishment for the inmate, illustrating the tight control that Bobrisky was under during her supposed imprisonment.
Speculation has arisen regarding the visit of fellow crossdresser James Brown, who claimed to have seen Bobrisky in prison on June 8. Sources close to James clarified that by that time, Bobrisky was no longer in custody, and she had actually gone to visit another inmate named Vindicate for a song project.
As of now, the Nigerian Correctional Service has neither confirmed nor denied the reports about Bobrisky's arrangements, but the Interior Ministry announced the suspension of two deputy controllers of corrections at Kirikiri over their handling of the high-profile case, signaling an intent to investigate the matter further.