The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has reaffirmed the suspension of its senior officers allegedly concerned within the N15 million bribery allegations surrounding the embattled crossdresser Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky.
The reaffirmation comes after Michael Anugwa, the deputy comptroller of corrections (DCC) in control of the Medium Safety Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Kirikiri, Lagos State, downplayed his suspension.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Anugwa, one of many suspended officers who appeared earlier than a Home of Representatives committee investigating the alleged N15 million bribe on Monday, tagged it “a mere social media suspension.”
Throughout his look earlier than the committee, he denied receiving an official suspension letter and argued that he wouldn’t have worn his uniform if he had been suspended. He shocked the lawmakers by saying he had not been formally suspended as a result of he had not acquired a letter.
To make certain, a committee member, Patrick Umoh, requested once more, “Are you on suspension?” Mr Anugwa responded, “I solely noticed it on the pages of the newspapers.”
Nonetheless, NCoS Public Relations Officer Umar Abubakar’s assertion on the Correctional Service’s X web page on Monday refuted Anugwa’s claims, including that it was a ‘gross misconduct’ designed to mislead the general public.
The assertion partly reads: “The eye of the Nigerian Correctional Service has been drawn to a trending video of one among its senior officers purporting that the Service has not served him a letter of suspension as earlier directed by the Civil Defence, Correctional Hearth, and Immigration Providers Board (COCFIB).
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“The Service views this as gross misconduct geared toward deceptive the general public on the difficulty at hand. To keep away from doubt, the Nigerian Correctional Service suspended not solely the stated officer within the video, however three (3) different officers following their alleged roles in varied misconducts to permit for additional investigation.”
Suspension impact date
Moreover, the assertion indicated that Mr Anugwa’s and the opposite officers’ suspension took impact on 26 September and was communicated to the respective officers accordingly.
The NCoS urged the general public to stay steadfast, emphasising {that a} thorough investigation could be performed and that any people or teams discovered responsible could be held accountable underneath the Public Service Guidelines and different relevant legal guidelines.
The assertion famous, “The suspended officers are the officer-in-charge of the Most Safety Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Sikiru Adekunle; the Officer-in-charge of the Medium Safety Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Michael Anugwa; the Officer-in-charge of the Medium Safety Custodial Centre, Kuje, FCT Command, DCC Kevin Ikechukwu lloafonsi; and Assistant Superintendent of Corrections (ASC II) Ogbule Samuel Obinna of the Medium Safety Custodial Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
“Recall that two (2) letters have been issued by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Hearth, and Immigration Providers Board (CDCFIB) with reference Nos: CDCFIB/NCOS/DISP/016/VOL.II/16 and CDCFIB/NCOS/DISP/O16/VOL.II/17, each dated twenty sixth September 2024, suspending the aforementioned Officers.”
Background
This newspaper reported that the controversy started when social media influencer Martins ‘VeryDarkMan’ Otse shared a leaked audio recording of Bobrisky on his Instagram web page.
Within the audio, Bobrisky alleged that officers from the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) collected N15 million from him in trade for dropping cash laundering fees.
Moreover, he alleged that he spent his six-month jail time period in a personal residence after his godfather intervened by contacting the Comptroller Basic of Prisons in Abuja.
Bobrisky additional said that human rights lawyer Femi Falana and his son, Falz, contacted him to facilitate an utility for a presidential pardon on his behalf.
In April, the EFCC arrested Bobrisky and charged him with six counts of cash laundering and Naira mutilation.
Throughout his trial on the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Lagos, Choose Abimbola Awogboro dismissed the cash laundering fees (counts 5 and 6) however sentenced him to 6 months in jail for Naira abuse.
Final week, the bribery acquired widespread consideration. It led to the Home of Representatives resolving to analyze the matter, mandating its committees on Monetary Crimes and Reformatory Establishments to conduct the inquiry.
The joint committee summoned the EFCC, NCoS, VeryDarkMan, and Bobrisky to look earlier than it.
The listening to commenced on Monday. VeryDarkMan and his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, and representatives from the EFCC and NCoS have been in attendance, whereas Bobrisky was absent.
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