The Nigerian House of Representatives has resolved to launch an investigation into bribery allegations involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), following claims made by popular activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.
The decision was reached during a plenary session on Thursday, following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Patrick Umoh, an All Progressives Congress (APC) representative from Akwa Ibom.
VeryDarkMan had previously shared an audio recording in which popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, allegedly confessed to bribing EFCC officials with N15 million to drop money laundering charges against her.
Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison on April 12 for abusing the naira but was released on August 5.
In the audio, Bobrisky also claimed that her “godfather” and Haliru Nababa, the controller general of the NCoS, ensured she served her sentence in a private apartment rather than in a prison facility.
While Bobrisky later denied the bribery claims, calling the recording "fake," the controversy drew significant attention. In response, the EFCC invited both Bobrisky and VeryDarkMan for questioning regarding the allegations.
Further intensifying the scrutiny, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, has ordered a full investigation into the bribery allegations concerning the NCoS.
During the motion’s presentation, Umoh described the allegations as damaging and harmful to Nigeria's image, portraying the country as corrupt.
The motion received unanimous support when put to a voice vote by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
The House has now directed its committees on financial crimes and reformatory institutions to conduct a thorough investigation and report their findings within three weeks.
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