The Nigerian Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has promised that no official involved in the alleged preferential treatment scandal involving Nigerian social media personality and cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, will be shielded.
This assurance comes after widespread public outcry over claims that Bobrisky received special treatment during his recent time in a Nigerian correctional facility.
Bobrisky had reportedly been detained due to alleged naira abuse violations. In a leaked audio clip that quickly went viral, Bobrisky claimed he had paid officials within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for privileges while in custody. The clip sparked heated reactions and raised concerns about corruption and favoritism in the country’s correctional system.
On Tuesday, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Minister Tunji-Ojo acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, describing them as a “reflection of institutional issues.”
He said: “There are disciplinary procedures; you have to go through the board; you don’t just take action. Of course, somebody as high as an ACG who was found culpable of giving those verbal instructions in this regard has been suspended. This is because we said we are not going to shield anybody.”
The Minister noted that a formal report on the incident has been submitted to the appropriate board, with a copy sent to the NCoS to initiate disciplinary action. “The report is with the board; we have sent a copy to the service themselves because disciplinary actions must start,” Tunji-Ojo explained.
In closing, Tunji-Ojo highlighted the need for institutional reform to prevent such incidents in the future, asserting, “We cannot transfer today’s problem to the future.” He indicated that the government is committed to addressing corruption and ensuring that no individual receives special treatment within the correctional system, underscoring a broader mission to restore public trust in Nigerian institutions.
