Bobrisky, VDM, NCoS and Nigeria’s criminal justice system — Opinion — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

The varied bribery and corruption allegations levied, and surrounding some celebrities, questioning the propriety of working circumstances within the nation’s correctional centres require full investigation by the Minister of Inside, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to erase suspected irregularities within the centres, and sanitise the prison justice system. The Federal Authorities has lately suspended a number of senior officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) over bribery allegations involving the controversial transgender, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, extensively often known as Bobrisky.

Notably, Bobrisky had been sentenced to 6 months in jail by the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Lagos, with out the choice of a wonderful, for the abuse of the Nigerian foreign money, the Naira. Nonetheless, Bobrisky’s conviction and jail time period have been adopted by vital scandals. As an illustration, blogger and influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, often known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), alleged in viral movies that Bobrisky bribed officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) to keep away from serving his full jail sentence. VDM claimed that Bobrisky paid ₦15 million to unnamed EFCC officers to drop cash laundering expenses in opposition to him. Moreover, VDM alleged that Bobrisky didn’t serve his jail time period in a jail cell however in an house organized by an unnamed godfather who had spoken to the Controller Basic of Nigerian Correctional Service. He additionally alleged that Folarin Falana, popularly often known as Falz, a musician and son of senior lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), was arranging for his father to safe a Presidential pardon for Bobrisky for the sum of ₦10 million. In a newly-released audio, VDM claimed that Bobrisky acknowledged he had paid ₦5 million prematurely to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to foyer for the Presidential pardon.

In the meantime, Bobrisky has filed a defamation lawsuit in opposition to VDM, demanding ₦1 billion in damages. The authorized motion stems from an audio recording launched by VDM, by which he claimed that Bobrisky had bribed EFCC officers. Bobrisky has argued that the recording was artificially generated to defame him. Along with the financial damages, Bobrisky has demanded a public apology and retraction of the content material, with a menace to escalate the matter in court docket if his calls for usually are not met inside 24 hours. In response, VDM denied the accusations and threatened to counter-sue Bobrisky for a similar quantity, ₦1 billion, alleging that his integrity and credibility have been at stake.

On their half, Femi Falana (SAN) and his son Falz have denied any discussions with Bobrisky and have threatened a defamation swimsuit in opposition to VDM. In response to those allegations, the Federal Authorities has suspended a number of senior jail officers, together with the Deputy Controllers of Corrections on the Kirikiri Medium and Most Safety Custodial Centres. The suspensions are a part of an ongoing investigation into attainable infractions and corruption inside the correctional system. The EFCC has additionally invited each Bobrisky and VDM to offer additional info to assist in its investigation.

Following the decision of the Home of Representatives to research allegations of bribery in opposition to the EFCC and others, the Home Joint Committee summoned the EFCC chairman, Bobrisky, and VDM to seem earlier than it. On the Home listening to on September 30, Bobrisky was absent, together with his lawyer citing sickness as the explanation, whereas VDM appeared however refused to talk till Bobrisky was current. Nonetheless, addressing the Home Joint Committee, the Deputy Controller on the Kirikiri Correctional Facility, Lagos, DCC Michael Anuhqta, revealed that they positioned Bobrisky in a non-public home to forestall him from being attacked as a result of he had the physique of a girl. The case remains to be beneath investigation, with the Home probing deeper into the corruption claims involving each the EFCC and the NCoS.

The above scandals, accusations, counter-accusations, claims, and counter-claims have solid a unfavorable mild on the practices inside the EFCC and the NCoS, revealing potential loopholes in accountability and elevating questions on equity and integrity in Nigeria’s regulation enforcement and correctional processes. There may be an inherent hazard in permitting Bobrisky free rein to flaunt his transgender actions in public. His provocative posts, specific content material, and public feuds are seen as unfavorable influences, significantly on youthful audiences. His public persona and actions might perpetuate stereotypes or misunderstandings about gender identification and sexuality, particularly in a conservative society like Nigeria.

In response to experiences credited to VDM, Bobrisky allegedly claimed that the EFCC dropped cash laundering expenses in opposition to him after he paid them ₦15 million. He prompt that the fees have been unfounded, accusing the EFCC of focusing on him unjustly because of his wealth and excessive profile. He additionally alleges that as an alternative of serving his six-month jail sentence in a daily custodial centre, he was positioned in a well-furnished house outdoors the jail facility. This declare has implicated a number of senior jail officers, resulting in their suspension pending investigation. It suggests the potential of preferential remedy for influential or rich people inside the jail system. These occasions have drawn vital public consideration, particularly as a result of involvement of distinguished figures and the accusations of systemic corruption inside the NCoS.

The Tinubu authorities, by the Minister of Inside, ought to be sure that an intensive, clear and unbiased investigation of all of the events concerned and the bribery allegations is urgently carried out. By the way, the Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA) and others are equally urging the federal government to conduct an unbiased investigation into the issues, emphasising the necessity to deal with systemic corruption if these allegations show true. If any officers, together with these from the EFCC or NCoS, senior legal professionals, Bobrisky or VDM, are discovered culpable, they need to be delivered to justice irrespective of whose ox is gored. If the thorough investigation proves that officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service and EFCC have been concerned in corrupt practices, the federal government should take swift motion to penalise them. We consider that dismissing and prosecuting responsible officers will function a deterrent in opposition to future misconduct. To take care of public belief, updates on the progress of the investigation must be shared overtly. It will be sure that the general public is aware of the federal government is dedicated to addressing corruption in its establishments.

That is the time for broader judicial and correctional reforms to revive public confidence within the Nigerian justice system. The federal government ought to use this chance to strengthen oversight mechanisms, guarantee stricter enforcement of anti-corruption legal guidelines, and reform correctional companies to get rid of privileges that undermine justice.