The Federal Government investigative panel has finally revealed its findings on the controversy surrounding Bobrisky’s jail sentence.
After reviewing the evidence, the panel concluded that Bobrisky served the entire six-month sentence within the prison walls, debunking claims that he was housed in a private apartment.
Cyber Reporters reports that this investigation was sparked by allegations made by activist VeryDarkMan, who shared a video of Bobrisky purportedly claiming to have bribed EFCC officials to drop money laundering charges.
The panel, chaired by Magdalena Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, was established by Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo on September 30 to probe alleged corruption and misconduct within the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Uju Agomoh, Executive Director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, PRAWA, presented the phase one report, stating that while Bobrisky did not leave the prison, he did enjoy several privileges.
These privileges he said included access to a furnished single cell, a humidifier, frequent family visits, self-feeding, and designated inmates to run errands.
Additionally, Bobrisky allegedly had access to a fridge, television, and possibly his phone.
The panel raised concerns that these privileges may have been financially motivated and based on potential corrupt practices by correctional officers.
The panel’s findings also highlighted inconsistencies in Bobrisky’s treatment, particularly his transfer to a maximum security facility as a first-time offender, which violated Sections 164A and 164B of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019.
To prevent similar incidents, the panel recommended establishing clear guidelines for managing high-profile inmates.
He said:
“The panel did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Mr Okuneye slept outside the custodial centre during the period of his imprisonment, which was from 12th April 2024 to the 5th August 2024, which is a six-month correctional sentence with the usual remission applicable.
“The panel also found that Mr. Okuneye Idris enjoyed several privileges while in custody, both at the Medium Security and the Maximum Security Custodial Centres, which include, especially the following: furnished single cells, humidifier, lots of visits by his family members and friends as he desired, self-feeding, designated inmates to run errands for him, access to fridge and television, and possibly access to his phone.
“It is necessary to further investigate if the above privileges provided for Okuneye Idris were financially motivated and based on corrupt practices by correctional officers.
“The panel believes that the peculiar case of the inmates and the inmates’ physical look and behaviour pose a threat, and the lack of laid-down rules for the treatment of such a case may have necessitated such privileges to be granted to Okunenye Idris.
“The panel recommends that clear guidelines need to be set up to guide operations regarding such incidents in future.
“Steps should be taken to avoid the obvious discriminatory practices in relation to the socio-economic levels and other status of inmates.”
