The Nigerian government has launched an investigation into allegations that cross-dresser Bobrisky received preferential treatment during his incarceration.
The probe was initiated by the minister of interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, following public outcry and media reports suggesting that Bobrisky enjoyed special privileges while serving a six-month prison sentence related to the abuse of naira notes.
On Monday, the independent investigative panel set up by the minister of interior began probing the veracity of the claims at a sitting focused on alleged corruption, abuse of power, torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Dr. Uju Agomoh, secretary of the panel, said the inquiry would not only investigate the circumstances that led to Bobrisky’s treatment but would also determine if he truly served his sentence.
She stated, “The first aspect of the acts has been conducted, but it is important to understand that in relation to the scope and in looking at the two specific cases which were assigned to the Act, the order that was stated here in terms of referencing is the review of all documents regarding cases of corruption, torture, cruelty, inhumane and degrading treatment reported by inmates or other credible sources brought to the attention of the state. Then examine the organisational culture, policies and practices within the correctional facility that may contribute to human rights violations.”
The panel’s wider mandate includes assessing violations of rules governing correctional officers and inmate treatment, ensuring compliance with international human rights standards and recommending reforms to enhance rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.
Earlier, Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary of the ministry of interior and chairperson of the panel, had ordered that inmates be moved out of the Abeokuta correctional facility within four weeks due to poor sanitary conditions. She also directed a status report on all booster homes and the Ilorin booster centre.
Ajani emphasised the significance of the investigation, saying, “I would like to state emphatically that setting up this investigative panel is not merely an administrative exercise. It is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and justice. As the Ministry of Interior and as a nation, we recognise that the credibility of our correctional system is central to the rule of law, the security sector, and indeed to public confidence in governance.”
Minister Tunji-Ojo highlighted the importance of the investigation for reform: “We want to really reform the correctional service. Your core responsibility is to investigate specific allegations of corruption, torture, and mistreatment of inmates by correctional officers, especially the immediate one on Bobrisky, which I expect to be out in two weeks.”
The panel is also tasked with identifying systemic challenges within the correctional system that may foster corruption or human rights violations, and to propose strategic recommendations to uphold correctional best practices.
The allegations first gained attention in September 2024 when several officers overseeing the maximum and minimum custodial centres in Kirikiri, Lagos, were suspended following claims of misconduct linked to Bobrisky’s detention.
Bobrisky was arrested in early April 2024 by Nigerian police for defacing naira banknotes, a criminal offense under the Central Bank of Nigeria Act. He pleaded guilty to four counts of currency abuse on April 5, 2024 and was sentenced to six months imprisonment on April 12, 2024.
He was detained at the Kirikiri Maximum Custodial Centre, a facility notorious for overcrowding and poor living conditions. Reports soon emerged alleging that Bobrisky received preferential treatment during his stay, including claims that he was allowed to serve his sentence in a private apartment within the prison and that prison officials received bribes on his behalf.
Following these allegations, several prison officials were suspended and an investigative panel was set up to probe the claims.
