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Bobrisky: Probe report will be ready next week, says Tunji-Ojo

Published

3 weeks ago

October 8, 2024

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Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, says the report of the investigation into allegations of bribery and misconduct within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) involving Idris Okuneye, a popular crossdresser known as Bobrisky, will be ready next week.

Tunji-Ojo spoke in Abuja at the official launch of the report on the situation of children and young adults deprived of liberty in Nigeria.

The minister ordered a probe after VeryDarkMan, the controversial activist, shared a video online in which Bobrisky claimed she bribed some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials with N15,000,000 to drop the money laundering charges against her.

The crossdresser was released from prison on August 5 after she was sentenced to six months on April 12 for abusing the naira.

But in the footage, Bobrisky claimed her “godfather” alongside Haliru Nababa, the controller general of the NCoS, ensured she served the six-month sentence in a private apartment and not the prison.

READ 'How I got audio recording of Bobrisky’ — VeryDarkMan breaks silence

Although the crossdresser denied the allegations, the federal government suspended some NCoS officials over the controversy.

Tunji-Ojo acknowledged the presence of dedicated officers within the system but noted that the actions of a few would not be allowed to destroy the integrity of the institution.

“I don’t care about Bobrisky; it is about the system. There must be penalties for actions,” the minister said.

“The correctional centers cannot continue to be a point of disgrace to the Nigerian government.”

Tunji-Ojo also confirmed that an officer implicated in the scandal has been suspended and replaced.

‘SYSTEM WILL BE REFORMED’

The minister stressed the need for accountability in addressing the challenges within Nigeria’s correctional facilities and reiterated commitment to transforming the system.

Tunji-Ojo also assured that he would take responsibility for the future of the system.

“This responsibility will be a springboard for a better tomorrow,” he said.

“If I tell you that I am comfortable with what is happening at the correctional centres, I will be the greatest liar.”

READ Bobrisky: VeryDarkMan arrives n’assembly to testify, refuses to speak until...

“Take this to the bank: we will reform the Nigerian correctional center.”

Sharing statistics from a recent SWOT analysis conducted by his ministry, the minister said out of 84,000 inmates in Nigeria, approximately 10 percent were imprisoned for failing to pay fines as low as N10,000.

“Do we need 256 correctional centres? The answer is no,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo advocated for creative solutions and collaboration with the ministry of justice to explore non-custodial options for approximately 70 percent of inmates who are awaiting trial.

Related Topics:Bobrisky PROBE REPORT Tunji-Ojo

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Police detain VeryDarkMan after honouring invitation

Published

21 mins ago

November 1, 2024

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Deji Adeyanju, the Nigerian lawyer, says the police have detained VeryDarkMan, the social media critic.

In a Twitter post on Thursday evening, the lawyer said the activist, born Martins Otse, was detained after honouring the police invitation.

Adeyanju lamented that his client was taken into custody despite cooperating with the police authorities.

“Our client, VDM has been detained after honouring police invitation just like yesterday. VDM who has been consistent in saying the Nigerian Police are our friends even when we all know they are not,” the tweet reads.

The development comes after VeryDarkMan shared a video of himself in a matching suit. In the footage, he said he was heading to the police station in Abuja to respond to the invitation.

Trouble began when VeryDarkMan wore a police uniform and introduced himself as the “chief superintendent of police (CSP) of the online division”.

The police said it would launch an investigation to determine the source of the police gear used and the authority under which the activist acted.

READ Bobrisky: VeryDarkMan arrives n’assembly to testify, refuses to speak until...

VeryDarkMan would later apologise to the police while emphasizing that he didn’t intend to impersonate the law enforcement agency.

The fitness expert had also revealed that he returned from the police station where he was interrogated based on the controversial footage.

The police have yet to confirm VeryDarkMan’s detention or provide further details.

News

We secured over 3,000 convictions, recovered N248bn, $105m in one year – EFCC

Published

29 mins ago

November 1, 2024

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it recovered over N248 billion, $105 million, and secured 3455 convictions in one year.

Ola Olukoyede, chairman of EFCC, spoke in Abuja on Thursday during a press conference to mark his one year in office.

Represented by Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC’s director of public affairs, Olukoyede said the achievements were recorded between October 18, 2023, and October 18, 2024, when he assumed office.

“The commission within the year recovered N248, 750,049,365.52; $105,423,190.39; £53,133.64; €172,547.10; T1,300.00 Indian rupees and CAD $3,400.00 Canadian dollars,” he said.

“It also recovered ¥74,859:00 Chinese Yuan; AUS $ 740:00 Australian Dollars; 170:00 UAE Dirham; 73,000:00 Korean Won; CFA 7,821,375:00 and R 50:00 South Africa Rands.

“On asset recovery and return, the EFCC on Sept. 6 handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) the sum of $180,300 and 53 vehicles, being assets recovered for Canadian victims of Nigerian fraudsters.”

READ Meet me in court: Mompha hits Bobrisky with defamation suit, demands N1bn for damages

The EFCC chairman said $164,000 of the recovered cash assets was from one Elena Bogomas, while $16,300 belonged to another victim, known as Sandra Butler.

He added that about 53 vehicles recovered “were stolen over a period of time in Canada, freighted to Nigeria, and distributed to multiple locations in Nigeria by the criminal elements”.

He said the commission charged four former governors to court over corruption allegations in the past year.

The former governors are Yahaya Bello, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Willie Obiano, and Darius Ishaku.

Olukoyede said the commission also arrested two former ministers of power, Saleh Mamman and Olu Agunloye, who are currently facing prosecution.

“Also, a former minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, is currently standing trial before two different courts: Justice S.B. Belgore of the FCT high court, Garki, and Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT high court, Maitama,” he said.

He said Sirika is being prosecuted alongside his brother, Ahmad Sirika, and two companies, Enginos Nigeria Limited and Samahah Integrated Investment Limited, on 10 counts bordering on alleged N5.8 billion fraud.

READ ‘I’m a man,’ Bobrisky admits in court

He added that the former minister is also standing trial for six counts alongside Fatima Sirika, Jalal Hamma, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited over alleged N2.8 billion fraud.

JUST IN: NSIB locates wreckage of crashed helicopter in Port Harcourt

Published

9 hours ago

October 31, 2024

admin

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says its search and recovery teams have successfully located the wreckage of the ditched Sikorsky SK76 helicopter.

In a statement on Thursday, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, NSIB’s director of public affairs and family assistance, said the wreckage was identified during recovery dives conducted on Wednesday night.

Details later…