Tag: Bobrisky

Again, when VDM says that some officers of the all-powerful Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) collected a whopping sum of N15m from Okuneye to enable them drop the charge of money laundering from the gamut of charges to be brought against him at the court, it is not impossible that most of us would doubt the possibility of such “friendly arrangement,” knowing how corruption corrupts the seemingly incorrupt in the system. Unless we want to play the ostrich and close our eyes to the imperfections in the system, we all know that a lot of shady deals go on in the name of fighting corruption and, unfortunately so, some of the agents dip their hands in the corrosive till. That is the reality.

Despite all the allegations raised by VDM, one would have expected that the institutions implicated—those mentioned in his exposé—would have promptly presented irrefutable evidence to discredit his claims. Surely, Nigerians deserve proof that the whole affair is nothing but baseless gossip, and that VDM was merely on a vindictive mission to tarnish the ‘good image’ of Idris Okuneye, a.k.a. Bobrisky, who, by the way, has filed a N1 billion lawsuit against VDM for defamation. Wonderful! But before the courtroom drama unfolds, Nigerians were treated to a preview of what could be the legal battles to come when the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee summoned all the key players involved in the controversy to appear before the National Assembly some weeks back.

During the session, when asked why Okuneye, who was officially recognised as a male by the prison authorities, wasn’t placed in a male prison to serve his sentence, the Deputy Controller of Corrections at Kirikiri made a bizarre claim. He stated that Bobrisky has “distinctly female physical features, like breasts.” However, he conveniently avoided mentioning what was between the legs of the infamous inmate, which seemed to justify Bobrisky’s placement in a special “protective custody.” There, his needs, including food and drinks, were catered to by two of his relatives, Abiola and Moji Okuneye.

As the Yoruba would say, or more aptly, as King Sunny Ade once sang, “what money cannot do dies with the earth.” A former South-South governor, now a prominent senator, even quipped that “what money cannot do, more money will.” Following the circumstantial evidence trickling out from this saga, it becomes easier to see how the tangled web of lies has been spun to cover up the festering rot beneath. Bobrisky, for his part, denied ever negotiating his way through the prison system, claiming that VDM used artificial intelligence to fabricate the conversation in which his voice was allegedly captured. VDM, on the other hand, insists he obtained the recording from a friend of Bobrisky, angry that the cross-dresser refused to repay the N4 million he had borrowed to help settle the N15 million reportedly demanded by the EFCC to drop money laundering charges. Interestingly, another voice recording has emerged after the initial one released to the public by VDM. We don’t know, for now, if this one is also the craftsmanship of Artificial Intelligence. But, to say the least , it is another damning, evidence of the sacrilege that goes on in high places.

Other names were dragged into the matter, but those seem tangential, involving people merely doing their jobs. The EFCC, in its defence before the committee, argued that the money laundering charges were dropped because the evidence on hand supported naira abuse charges, not the additional charge related to Bobrisky’s failure to render proper returns for his business, Bob Express. Bilikisu Buhari, the EFCC prosecutor, explained that they acted on a report from the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), which concluded that Bob Express wasn’t a designated non-financial business subject to certain regulations. Consequently, the EFCC decided to drop charges 5 and 6 in the interest of justice and fairness, without any influence or inducement from the defense. In support of her claims, Buhari submitted the SCUML report.

As things stand, the matter teeters on a knife-edge, pending the outcome of an internal probe into the EFCC officials implicated in VDM’s bribery allegations. Unless the EFCC wants us to believe its prosecutor has already said everything there is to say, I expect the report, as promised by the EFCC Chairman Mr. Ola Olukoyede, to be made public. As I’ve often said, the EFCC needs to repair its public image and address the widespread perception that its officers are deeply entrenched in corruption. Last week, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu, announced that N13 billion in misappropriated public funds had been recovered in September 2024 alone. Incredible, right? Yet, this is merely the tip of the iceberg. If key officials could resist the lure of corrosive corruption, they might actually transform this nation for the better. It is disgraceful that the EFCC’s credibility has been eroded to the point where insignificant, loudmouthed figures now openly deride it due to the misconduct of a few bad eggs within its fold. Even worse, some of those officers stooped low enough to accept bribes from a character whose very identity remains controversial—even among the same officials who once assured us that the person parading in women’s clothing was indeed a man.

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As for Bobrisky, or Mr. Okuneye, there’s a lesson to be learned in this saga for anyone who seeks validation by flaunting wealth and influence on social media. The day will surely come when the carefully constructed image comes crashing down. They said he was catching fun? Now, he is catching fire for being loudmouthed and flaunting his stupidity. Would he survive the onslaught? He possibly would. Why, you ask? Well, this is Nigeria, where another celebrity scandal will soon emerge to drown out the uproar surrounding Bobrisky and his dizzying spiral of self-destruction. Given how we glorify the absurd in this country, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone is already considering nominating him for a national honour—perhaps for “surviving” prison and returning in grand style, riding the latest Range Rover with a praise band in tow. What a tragic commentary on our society.

Today, I find myself in a rather peculiar situation, writing on a topic I never expected to approach—no matter how relevant it might be to our collective mental health. Yet, I’ve come to realise that there’s often something comforting in turning away from the relentless onslaught of national problems to focus on the lighter, more curious aspects of life—providing a cathartic escape. This is precisely how I view the ongoing debate about whether Idris Okuneye, the infamous social media cross-dresser popularly known as Bobrisky, actually served his six-month sentence at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility after his conviction for currency abuse.

Let’s be honest: in the grand scheme of things, should it really concern Nigerians if a pampered adult ends up in prison for violating the law? Especially one who has chosen a lifestyle that is not only unfamiliar to many but also contrary to what most Africans consider, at best, an aberration. I won’t even delve into how this individual has managed to attract millions of followers on social media and amass a fortune that affords him a life of luxury. These are just some of the puzzling questions that arise when trying to understand the phenomenon known as Bobrisky.

So, who exactly is Idris Okuneye? From available records, we know that the impeccably dressed “lady” who once rained crisp naira notes while King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1) performed at a birthday celebration was, in reality, a man dressed as a woman. I vividly recall watching that video with mixed emotions, wondering if my favourite musical icon had crossed a line by seemingly endorsing something that, in my view, should have been unequivocally rejected. I watched Bobrisky gyrating to KWAM 1’s praises, feeling a deep sense of unease. Something dangerous, I thought, was being unleashed on society, though I didn’t fully understand the scope of the threat. Often, it’s the small things we overlook that eventually grow into the monsters that haunt us.

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What alarmed me even more was seeing respected Nollywood actors, especially from the Yoruba film industry, joining in the festivities—dancing, spraying money, and celebrating with Bobrisky. I shook my head, realising they were embarking on a dangerous path. To them, it might have seemed like harmless fun, possibly just part of the theatrics of the entertainment world. They may have rationalised that Bobrisky was simply “catching cruise” and living his truth. But therein lies the problem—we rarely ask the tough questions, preferring to sweep them under the rug until they inevitably resurface and demand our attention.

And now, the Bobrisky saga has come full circle, splattering us all with the fallout. When I say “us,” I mean everyone who stood by and encouraged his rise, when we could have extinguished the flames before they grew into the blaze that now engulfs us. If my memory serves me right, Bobrisky isn’t even Nigeria’s first or most famous cross-dresser—Denrele Edun held that title before him. But somehow, Bobrisky emerged from the shadows, becoming a sensation, acquiring properties in Abuja and Lagos, and surrounding himself with high-powered lawyers. His connections reportedly extended into the corridors of power, which might explain his boldness and apparent sense of invincibility.

There was even a viral video of Bobrisky donating a substantial sum of money at a Muslim gathering, with the cleric praising his generosity despite his feminine appearance. In another video, Islamic clerics were seen praying for a lavishly dressed Okuneye as he handed out crisp naira notes. It was a disturbing sight. Given his high-profile clientele (don’t ask me what kind of business they engage in), it’s no wonder Bobrisky, like many others in our flawed society, began to see himself as untouchable. Wealth and a bit of fame often breed a dangerous level of confidence, and Bobrisky was no exception.

And so, the recent controversy surrounding Bobrisky’s six-month jail term has shed light on the deeper issues plaguing Nigeria’s correctional facilities. Many Nigerians feel the sentence was harsh, considering the widespread nature of the offence. However, the real shock came when social media celebrity Martins Otse, aka Very Dark Man, exposed the preferential treatment Bobrisky received during his time at Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos. It appears that Bobrisky enjoyed privileges typically reserved for high-ranking officials and the wealthy, raising concerns about corruption within the nation’s correctional facilities. This revelation has sparked outrage, but unfortunately, it’s not a surprise to many Nigerians who have long been aware of the systemic issues plaguing the country’s institutions. When VDM, in the video he posted on Instagram, said the palms of senior officers in charge of the Kirikiri facility were greased before Bobrisky was whisked to a special accommodation to enjoy his prison holiday, no one would have expected that such generosity would naturally come from the milk of kindness that flows through the veins of the authorities of the prisons. Like we put it in the local parlance, something must happen for something to happen. Again, when VDM says that some officers of the all-powerful Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) collected a whopping sum of N15m from Okuneye to enable them drop the charge of money laundering from the gamut of charges to be brought against him at the court, it is not impossible that most of us would doubt the possibility of such “friendly arrangement,” knowing how corruption corrupts the seemingly incorrupt in the system. Unless we want to play the ostrich and close our eyes to the imperfections in the system, we all know that a lot of shady deals go on in the name of fighting corruption and, unfortunately so, some of the agents dip their hands in the corrosive till. That is the reality.