The House of Representatives has initiated an investigation into bribery allegations involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
This decision was reached during a plenary session on Thursday, following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Patrick Umoh, a lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The controversy stems from allegations made by Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who shared an audio recording of Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, claiming to have bribed EFCC officials with N15 million to drop a money laundering charge.
Bobrisky, a well-known crossdresser, was sentenced to six months in prison on April 12, 2024, for naira abuse but was released on August 5, 2024.
In the recording, Bobrisky allegedly claimed that her “godfather” and Haliru Nababa, the Controller General of the NCoS, ensured she served the sentence in a private apartment instead of a prison.
Though Bobrisky has since denied the bribery allegations, calling the recording “fake,” the EFCC has invited both her and VeryDarkMan for questioning.
The bribery claims have sparked further concerns as Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, has also ordered a thorough investigation into the NCoS’s involvement.
During the plenary, Umoh expressed his alarm over the allegations, stressing that such claims reflect poorly on Nigeria’s reputation.
The House of Representatives responded by mandating its committees on financial crimes and reformatory institutions to investigate the matter, with a directive to submit findings within three weeks.
The investigation is expected to shine a spotlight on the credibility of Nigeria’s financial crime and correctional institutions, particularly in the face of high-profile accusations.
