The Nigerian House of Representatives has initiated an investigation into serious bribery allegations leveled against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).
The allegations were brought to public attention by popular social media influencer, Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, who accused the EFCC of receiving N15 million to drop money laundering charges against Idris Okuneye, famously known as Bobrisky.
The motion to probe the allegations was presented by Rep. Patrick Umoh, representing Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, during Thursday’s plenary session. Rep. Umoh expressed his concern about the gravity of the allegations and their potential to damage Nigeria’s already fragile image on the global stage, where corruption remains a significant challenge.
Rep. Umoh detailed the accusations, noting that Otse’s social media post alleged that the EFCC, responsible for prosecuting financial crimes, had dropped money laundering charges against Bobrisky after allegedly receiving a bribe of N15 million.
Additionally, it was claimed that Bobrisky, convicted for defacing the Naira, did not serve his sentence in the Nigerian Correctional Service facility but was instead housed outside its premises.
“The publication alleges that the EFCC dropped money laundering charges against Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, upon collection of the sum of N15,000,000,” Umoh said. “It also claims that, upon conviction, Bobrisky did not serve his time at the Nigerian Correctional Service, but was lodged outside the confines of the service.”
Umoh emphasized that such allegations undermine the credibility of the EFCC and NCS, which were established to enforce law and order and serve correctional purposes, respectively. He urged his colleagues to support the investigation, stressing the importance of restoring public trust in these institutions.
The House of Representatives has now committed to thoroughly investigating the matter, with a focus on maintaining accountability within Nigeria’s critical law enforcement agencies. The outcome of the probe will be closely watched as it could have far-reaching implications for the nation’s efforts to combat corruption and ensure transparency within its justice system.