Prison experts have shed light on the reasons behind the separation of controversial Nigerian crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, from other inmates at a correctional facility.
The explanation comes amid growing public speculation, including claims that Bobrisky was given special treatment in prison.
On a TV program aired on Friday, September 27, the Director General of the Prison Rehabilitation Mission, Bishop Kayode Williams, dismissed rumors of a VIP section in the prison, clarifying that the system categorizes inmates based on their safety needs and the nature of their crimes.
Williams explained the typical accommodations provided for inmates, stating, “There are accommodations for condemned prisoners, those sentenced to death, who must not mingle with other inmates. The second accommodation is for convicted inmates, who are the owners of the prison.”
Addressing Bobrisky’s specific situation, Williams added, “With his transgender body, they couldn’t place Idris in the general cell. The first priority is the safety of inmates, and he would be in danger due to his appearance.”
According to Williams, Bobrisky was placed in a special protective custody to prevent harm from other inmates, particularly those who could take advantage of his feminine appearance. “He looks like a woman, moves like a woman, and there are homosexual inmates who could be a threat,” he said.
The former National PRO of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Francis Enobore, supported Williams’ remarks, stating that the correctional system profiles each inmate to ensure their safety.
He added, “Although Bobrisky confessed in court that he is a man, he presented himself physically as a woman, which could lead to a serious security issue if not handled carefully.”
Enobore, however, denied allegations of Bobrisky being given a private apartment, emphasizing that such claims were false. “There’s no private section in prison,” he confirmed.
The controversy surrounding Bobrisky’s prison accommodations intensified earlier in the week when social media activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, released a voice note in which Bobrisky allegedly claimed that his six-month sentence for abusing the naira notes was being served in a private section, arranged by his godfather in collaboration with the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
In response to the bribery allegations, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board announced the suspension of two deputy controllers at the Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre in Lagos on Thursday, further deepening the case’s complexities.
