The House of Representatives has opened an investigation into the alleged N15 million bribery involving controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The hearing, held by the House Committees on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions, began on Monday at 2:05 p.m. It was attended by activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, alongside his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
The investigation follows Otse’s revelation of a leaked audio recording in which Bobrisky reportedly detailed his experience with the EFCC.
In the leaked recording, Bobrisky alleged that the EFCC dropped money laundering charges against him after receiving a bribe of N15 million. He further claimed that, despite being convicted, he never spent a single day in prison. Instead, according to Bobrisky, his “godfather” arranged for him to serve his six-month jail sentence in a private lodge.
“I served my time in a private apartment, not in any correctional facility. My godfather contacted the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, and everything was settled,” Bobrisky allegedly said in the recording.
The scandalous claims have cast a shadow over the Nigerian Correctional Service, raising concerns about corruption and the abuse of power.
However, during the hearing, Bobrisky was notably absent, with his lawyer attending in his place. The lawyer cited illness as the reason for his client’s absence, but lawmakers were unimpressed, questioning why no medical documentation was provided to confirm Bobrisky’s condition.
“Why didn’t you bring a sick letter to prove that Bobrisky is actually ill?” one lawmaker queried, hinting at possible attempts to delay the investigation.
As the investigation continues, both the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service face scrutiny, with the committees vowing to get to the bottom of the allegations.