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.
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.”
“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.
