Connect with us

Metro News

Bobrisky: Panel recommends fresh criminal charges, indicts four prison officers

Published

on

 

There are fresh indication that embattled crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, may face fresh criminal charges over claims that he served his jail term in a private apartment and bribed officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to drop money laundering charges against him.

A panel set up to investigate the claims recommended that he should face defamation and criminal charges, according to Sunday PUNCH.

Bobrisky was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on April 12 for abusing the naira. He was released from prison on August 5.

 

But a few weeks after his release, controversial social critic, Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, shared a voice note of a conversation purportedly between Bobrisky and another person, where the crossdresser allegedly stated that he bribed EFCC officers with N15m to drop money laundering charges against him. He also claimed to have bribed officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service to serve his six-month sentence in a private apartment.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, subsequently constituted an investigation panel, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Magdalena Ajani, on September 30, to probe the claims.

 

The panel, while presenting its report, said there was no evidence that Bobrisky slept outside the Kirikiri Custodial Centre during his six-month sentence.

Details of the report stated that Bobrisky tarnished the image of the correctional service with false claims.

The panel also asked the Department of State Services to investigate whether, directly or through a proxy, he bribed the EFCC or the correctional service.

READ  Deadly blast: At least 103 killed in explosions near Iranian military commander grave

If the allegations of bribery by Bobrisky are substantiated, the panel said he should be charged with corrupt practices.

“The Nigerian Correctional Service should file defamation suits against Bobrisky under sections 373-375 of the Criminal Code Act for his false claims about bypassing the prison system, tarnishing the institution’s reputation.

“The DSS should be requested to investigate whether Bobrisky, directly or through a proxy, bribed EFCC or NCoS officials. If substantiated, Bobrisky should face charges under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act for bribing public officials,” the report partly read.

The panel also indicted four correctional officers who were recommended for disciplinary action as outlined in the NCoS’s condition of service, civil service, and applicable laws.

One of those recommended for sanctions is a former Controller of Corrections, Ben Rabbi-Freeman.

He was accused of “effecting the transfer of Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju without proper documentation of Form 5 and Form 5A from the Medium-Security Custody Centre to the Maximum-Security Custodial Centre on April 22, 2024, after over four months of the transfer date, and after the inmate had ended his imprisonment term; backdating the transfer documentation in relation to 1a and 1b above.

“Causing the in-charge Ikoyi Custodial Centre, in-charge Medium-Security Custodial Centre, and in-charge Maximum-Security Custodial Centre to sign backdated transfer documents in relation to Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju.”

In addition, the Deputy Controller of Corrections who was in charge of the Kirikiri Medium Security, Micheal Anugwa, who claimed during a parliamentary inquiry that he had not been suspended despite an official order from the Minister of Interior, was recommended for disciplinary action.

READ  Role models: Police officers  reject N300,000 bribe, return N600,000 wrongly paid into account

He was indicted for receiving Bobrisky into the Medium Security Custodial Centre without the relevant documentation on April 12, 2024, and without the necessary transfer documentation.

“DCC Balogun Sikiru (retd) — formerly in-charge of Maximum Security Custodial Centre for receiving Bobrisky into the Maximum Security Custodial Centre without the relevant documentation on April 22, 2024, and without the necessary transfer documentation, and DCC Sikiru Kamoru Adekunle who was in charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre for backdating the transfer documentation in relation to receiving of Okuneye Idris into the Maximum Security Custodial Centre on April 22, 2024, which was a period he was yet to resume as the in-charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre.”

 

The panel further recommended an audit of all inmates and detainees in all custodial centres of the NCoS, their warrants, and other records. It asked that a mechanism be set up to do this and sustain it as an effective oversight weekly.

 

It demanded “decommercialisation of all welfare and support services to inmates with immediate effect and ensuring that adequate funding and oversight are put in place to ensure the continuation of these. This will also include building sustainable partnerships with civil society organisations (example, with relevant NGOs and professional associations) on some or all of these.”

“Facilitate the effective implementation of non-custodial measures across the entire country to help reduce the number of people in custodial centres by utilising imprisonment only as a last resort,” the report added.

READ  Deranged! Bandits threaten to kill other abducted Greenfield varsity students

Special facilities in custodial centres

According to a senior management officer of the NCoS, what people called VIP treatment for certain prisoners was a special facility that had existed for years.

According to the high-ranking officer, custodial centres have different facilities and prisoners’ conditions (health, age, sex) determine which facility they stay in to serve their jail term.

The officer said, “There are different facilities in the custodial centres across the country, and it is not out of place to treat some of the prisoners according to their health conditions, sex, age, and category of the sentence. Importantly, the prison authority also considers human rights and the treatment of the prisoners.

“The case of Bobrisky is an eye-opener for us. The NCoS authority confirmed that he is a woman from the middle upward, while he is a man from the middle downward. We had never had such a person in our custody, and there is no facility for such a situation. He had to be placed in a separate cell so that he wouldn’t be abused. That facility is what he ignorantly called a private apartment.

“Whether VIP or not, the condition of a prisoner will determine the facility he/she is going to stay in. We can’t put a prisoner who has high blood pressure in a cell without enough ventilation.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Metro News

13 dead as mining site collapses in Plateau

Published

on

By

At least 13 persons have been reported dead after a mining site collapsed in Bassa LGA of Plateau. 

Joshua Riti, chairman of the LGA, said the incident occurred on November 10. He added that seven of the deceased hail from Bassa LGA

The collapsed mining site is conterminous with Jos south and Jos north LGAs.

“This is an unfortunate incident. These young people were only out in search of a means of livelihood,” NAN quoted Riti as saying.

“They went out to put their energies to good use to sustain and meet up with the current economic hardship in the country but met their untimely death.

“I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy.”

Majority of the victims were said to be aged 18-30.

Mining accidents are becoming a recurring decimal in resource-rich Nigeria.

In June, a mining site collapsed in Niger state following a downpour. Seven persons were eventually rescued. 

READ  Bobrisky detained in lone cell, to be arraigned today

In January, two people were killed and 77 injured in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, due to the activities of “illegal miners”. 

Continue Reading

Metro News

US lists Nigerian among 15 most wanted criminals, places $25,000 bounty on his head

Published

on

By

 

The United States of America has offered a $25,000 reward for anyone who could provide it with information that could facilitate the arrest of a Nigerian, Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, who is reportedly facing trial for the alleged murder of his child.

It was gathered from a statement credited to the Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal, Don Freeman, and obtained from the agency’s website on Monday, that Olawusi has also been named among the 15 most wanted fugitives in the US.

Freeman noted that Olawusi, who lived in Rhodes Island, US, was arraigned on two counts bordering on first-degree murder caused by inflicting bodily injury to a child and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

He added that the incident occurred on April 3, 2017, after police operatives and firefighters found the three-month-old child and rescued him at the hospital where it was discovered that the child had suffered injuries in 18 parts of his body. The discovery was said to have led to the arrest of Olawusi.

READ  Bobrisky opens up on prison experience, says ‘I’m ex-man, not ex-convict

 

Upon his arrest, Olawusi was charged in court on April 20, 2017, but his whereabouts became unknown after he was released the same day while the trial was pending.

 

Freeman added that the infant died six months after being hospitalised as a result of the injuries he had allegedly sustained from his father’s abuse which prompted the prosecuting department to include a murder charge in the ongoing trial.

He said, “A man wanted in Rhode Island on charges of murder, inflicting serious bodily injury to a child and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution has been added to the U.S. Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted fugitives list with an up to $25,000 reward being offered for information leading to his arrest.

“Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, 48, was charged in Providence with first-degree murder and two counts of inflicting serious bodily injury to a child after Providence Police and Fire personnel found his three-month-old son bleeding from the mouth and nose at a residence on April 3, 2017.

READ  Coca-Cola pledges $1bn investment in Nigeria

 

“The child was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated to regain a pulse. An examination at the hospital noted 18 injuries at various stages of healing, indicating a pattern of long-term abuse. These injuries included a skull fracture, subdural hematoma, significant brain injury, and fractures of the child’s ribs, clavicle, legs and arms. He was placed on life support but died six months later.

 

“Providence police arrested and charged Olawusi on April 20, 2017, with first-degree child abuse. He was released the same day and subsequently fled. The murder charge was added following the infant’s death on October 31, 2017.”

The US Supervisory Deputy Marshall noted that after frantic efforts to locate Olawusi, it was discovered that he had fled the country on June 20, 2017, while stressing that further investigation revealed that he was receiving assistance from family members in Nigeria.

 

He added that the suspect has been placed on the wanted list because he could pose a danger to children and other members of the public and the US would deploy all its resources to ensure that he faces justice.

READ  Evil father rapes 12-year-old daughter in Lagos, remanded in prison

 

“Olawusi is wanted for the abuse and murder of an innocent child and has fled the country to avoid justice. We have placed Mr Olawusi on our 15 Most Wanted list due to the heinous crimes he’s committed and the threat he continues to pose to the public. The USMS will exhaust all resources necessary to bring him to justice for his family and the community.

 

“Olawusi, who uses the alias Olekun Olawusi, stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 185 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Information regarding his whereabouts may be reported to the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2 (926-8332) or via the USMS Tips App,” Freeman concluded.

 

Continue Reading

Metro News

Two killed in Ogun ‘armed robbery attack’

Published

on

By

The Ogun police command says suspected armed robbers have reportedly killed two persons during an attack in Abeokuta, the state capital.

A statement on Monday by Omolola Odutola, police spokesperson in the state, said the incident occurred in the parking lot of Diamond Dumplings, GRA, in Abeokuta.

The police spokesperson said that three armed individuals, traveling in an unregistered black Toyota Hilux, stopped a black Mercedes Benz GLE 350 and demanded its keys.

“The incident occurred at about 12:30a.m in the parking lot of Diamond Dumplings, GRA, Abeokuta,” Odutola was qouted as saying.

“Three armed men in an unregistered black Toyota Hilux confronted the occupants of a black Mercedes Benz GLE 350 with a DLA license plate, demanding the car keys.

“The assailants opened fire, hitting one Ola (surname unknown) and one Shobanke Oluwatimileyin and two others.

“The Divisional Police Officer from Ibara, responding to distress calls, arrived the scene and ensured the area was secure before transporting the victims to the hospital.

READ  Good morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: Heavy security in Abuja ahead of verdict on Atiku, Obi’s petitions against Tinubu

“Upon their arrival, the attending doctor confirmed two fatalities, while the other two individuals are receiving medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta.”

Odutola said a probe has begun to uncover the circumstances surrounding the double fatalities and possible “cult” involvement connections.

She added that efforts to capture the suspects would continue, and the public would be kept abreast of developments in the investigation.

Continue Reading

Trending News