The Nigeria Immigration Service has officially declared social media personality, Okuneye Idris, popularly known as Bobrisky, a person of interest in an ongoing investigation.
This development comes after Bobrisky was intercepted by Immigration officers at the Sème border while attempting to flee the country.
The controversy surrounding Bobrisky began in April 2024 when he was sentenced to six months in prison by the Federal High Court in Lagos for naira abuse. Despite being officially incarcerated at Kirikiri Prison, reports emerged that Bobrisky spent only three weeks in the facility before being discreetly moved to a private location. This sparked widespread speculation that his release and special treatment were facilitated through bribery.
In late September, a social media influencer, VeryDarkMan, posted an audio recording allegedly involving Bobrisky. In the leaked recording, Bobrisky purportedly claimed that music artist, Falz, and his father, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, had approached him during his imprisonment, seeking N10m to secure a presidential pardon. However, Bobrisky denied making the claims, stating that he was not responsible for the leaked content.
In a statement signed by the Service Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kenneth Udo, the Immigration Service said, “The Service wishes to inform the public that OKUNEYE IDRIS is a person of interest over recent issues of public concern.” The statement added that Bobrisky is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, constituted an investigative panel to probe alleged corruption and other violations against the Nigeria Correctional Service over Bobrisky’s detention. The panel found no evidence that Bobrisky slept outside the prison walls after he was sentenced. However, they discovered that Bobrisky enjoyed several privileges while in custody, including furnished single cells, a humidifier, and lots of visits by his family members and friends.
The panel recommends setting up clear guidelines to guide operations regarding such incidents in the future and taking steps to avoid discriminatory practices related to socio-economic levels and other status of inmates.
