In a recent report, the Federal Government's investigative panel revealed that cross dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, received several special privileges during his six month jail term. The panel, set up by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, disclosed that Bobrisky’s prison experience was far from ordinary, sparking discussions about preferential treatment in the Nigerian prison system.
Bobrisky, who was sentenced to six months in prison for Naira abuse, reportedly enjoyed a furnished single cell equipped with a fridge, television, and humidifier. In addition to this, he had access to a designated inmate who ran errands for him. The report also detailed that Bobrisky was allowed to self feed, and his family and friends were granted frequent visits, sometimes held in the office of the officer in charge of the custodial center. Other privileges included floor rugs and an environment that allowed him more comfort than the average inmate.
The panel, led by Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, was set up following allegations that Bobrisky spent his jail term outside the prison facility. Controversial social critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, claimed Bobrisky bribed officials to evade serving his sentence within the correctional facility.
However, the panel found no evidence to support these allegations and cleared Bobrisky of these claims. Despite this, the report noted several procedural violations during Bobrisky’s incarceration, such as incomplete documentation when he was transferred between custodial centers. His prison transfer from Ikoyi Custodial Centre to Medium Custodial Centre Kirikiri and later to Maximum Custodial Centre Kirikiri was found to be in breach of sections 168 and 169 of the Nigerian Correctional Service Standing Order.
Additionally, the report flagged the decision to move Bobrisky to the Maximum Security Kirikiri facility as a first offender, which violated sections 16(4)(a) and (b) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019.
The report raised questions about whether the special privileges granted to Bobrisky were financially motivated or the result of corruption among correctional officers. It noted that Bobrisky's physical appearance and behavior might have led the custodial officers to provide special accommodations due to the absence of clear guidelines for handling such unique cases. The panel stressed the need for standardized protocols to prevent discriminatory practices based on an inmate’s socio economic status or celebrity profile.
To address these discrepancies, the panel recommended setting up clear guidelines for dealing with similar cases in the future, to ensure equality and fairness within the Nigerian prison system. The report concluded by emphasizing the importance of avoiding preferential treatment and corruption within correctional facilities, urging a more standardized approach to inmate care.
This revelation has sparked widespread debate, with many questioning the fairness of the prison system and the influence of wealth and status in receiving special treatment. The investigation into Bobrisky's prison privileges highlights the need for reform in the Nigerian correctional system to ensure equal treatment for all inmates, regardless of their social standing.