A traditional leader in Lagos, Chief Babalola Shabi, popularly known as “Baale No-Nonsense” of Kirikiri Town, has alleged that controversial social media personality and crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, received special treatment during his incarceration at Kirikiri Correctional Centre — allegedly in exchange for bribes totaling N35 million.
Chief Shabi made the claims during a town hall meeting organized by the Lagos State Police Command on Saturday, April 5, as part of the National Police Week activities.
According to the Baale, Bobrisky smuggled eight Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards into the facility and used them, via Point of Sale (POS) operators, to transfer large sums of money to correctional officers in exchange for preferential treatment. He claimed the funds were used to arrange a more comfortable stay for Bobrisky, reportedly outside the actual prison facility.
“Before the truth came out, everyone believed he was serving his sentence behind bars at Kirikiri. In reality, he was accommodated in a private residence outside the facility, facilitated by some correctional officers,” Shabi alleged.
The traditional leader stated that it was through his personal efforts that the scheme was uncovered. He said he summoned local POS operators to his palace, which led to further investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“I invited all the POS agents in the area and, after speaking with them, alerted the EFCC. Their investigation traced a transaction trail amounting to N35 million, revealing the extent of the operation,” he said.
Shabi described the scheme as a well-coordinated effort involving several complicit officials. He claimed correctional staff used the smuggled ATM cards to withdraw cash from POS vendors on Bobrisky’s behalf.
“The speed and coordination with which the money was withdrawn showed this wasn’t a one-man affair. It was a network. Some of the officials involved have since been suspended,” he noted.
He further alleged that the property where Bobrisky was housed has been identified and demolished, and that both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the EFCC had questioned him during the investigation.
“The DSS invited me for questioning, and I disclosed everything I knew. The EFCC also reached out and I cooperated fully. As a leader in this community, I refuse to tolerate such blatant abuse of the system,” he stated.
Chief Shabi’s account, however, appears to contradict an earlier report by a National Assembly panel, which confirmed that Bobrisky received preferential treatment during his detention but maintained that he remained within the confines of the correctional facility throughout his sentence.
