The Federal Government has suspended some senior officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) over an allegation of infractions involving controversial cross dresser, Idris Okuneye (aka Bobrisky), jail term.
Martins Vincent Otse popularly known as VeryDarkMan had in a viral video played a recorded phone call between Bobrisky and an unnamed individual where he said that he did not serve his term at the correctional centre but was housed in an apartment outside the facility after “his Godfather” intervened through the leadership of the service.
In a statement on Thursday the Secretary, Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Board. Ja’afaru Ahmed said suspension is to facilitate thorough investigation into the allegations, moting that the findings will be made public once concluded.
The statement reads, “Following the viral video trending on social media on alleged infractions by Officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service relating to Mr. Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has suspended forthwith the following Senior Officers of the Service:
“Michael Anugwa, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kiri-kiri, Lagos State; and
“Sikiru Adekunle, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), In-Charge of Maximum-Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kiri-kiri, Lagos State;
“Also, the Board has suspended ASC II Ogbule Samuel Obinna, serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Afikpo, Ebonyi State, for allegedly accompanying a convicted inmate out of the Custodial Centre to a location outside the facility.”
In another related development, the Board has equally suspended another Senior Officer of the Service, Iloafonsi Ikechukwu, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kuje- Abuja, for allegedly receiving monies on behalf of an inmate.
Following the viral video released by VeryDarkman, the House of Representatives on Thursday passed a resolution to investigate bribery allegations involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the NCS.
Bobrisky had said that the EFCC dropped money laundering charges against him after he paid N15 million and that he did not serve his sentence in a prison after being convicted for defacing the naira.
The resolution was adopted during Thursday’s plenary after a motion of urgent public importance was presented by Patrick Umoh, the representative for Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State.
“We are disturbed about the damning allegations against Nigerian critical law enforcement agencies-the EFCC and the NCS-established by this hallowed chamber to fight corruption and incarcerate convicted individuals for correctional
purposes, Umoh said.
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, referred the matter to the Committees on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions, with a directive to report back within three legislative weeks.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
