Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo has shared alarming insights into the corruption within Nigerian prisons, following recent controversies surrounding the cross-dresser Idris Okuneye Olanrewaju, commonly known as Bobrisky. In a conversation with Arise TV News, Soyombo detailed how prison officials indicated that financial means could prevent suffering behind bars.
The investigation was sparked by claims that Bobrisky served a portion of his six-month prison sentence in a private residence rather than a correctional facility, allegedly facilitated by bribery. His imprisonment stemmed from accusations of naira abuse.
Soyombo recounted that his own legal troubles began when he orchestrated a scheme involving a car purchase worth N2.8 million, claiming he only paid N500,000 and refused to settle the remainder. He explained, “I arranged for someone to assert that I bought a car and didn’t pay the full amount.”
Describing his ordeal, Soyombo noted that although he was charged with a car-related offense, the charges were later altered to a more serious accusation of hijacking an SUV. He recounted the daily pressure from officials seeking bribes, stating, “They kept asking me to settle. I chose to face imprisonment instead of capitulating to their demands.”
Upon his arraignment, Soyombo was immediately taken to a holding cell where he was confronted with an offer to pay for better accommodations. “They asked my ‘sister’ if this was where she wanted me to stay and suggested that money would secure a better situation,” he revealed. Ultimately, they settled on a payment of N5,000 for a more favorable arrangement.
Soyombo disclosed that prison officials offer various categories of cells to inmates based on their financial capacity, with options reaching up to N1 million. “They told me that if you have money, you won’t suffer. In prison, you serve your time based on your wealth or your physicality,” he explained. He asserted that Bobrisky likely did not spend any nights in a standard cell, claiming, “There’s no wealthy Nigerian who would serve their full sentence unless they choose to.”
He further alleged that during his own experience, an offer was made to allow him to sleep at home for N200,000, which he declined as he preferred to face prison time. Soyombo vividly recalled the harsh realities of prison life, saying, “You can’t turn in a cell packed with people. It’s a punishment beyond imagination, and money can buy you freedom from this suffering.”
Soyombo criticized the system, stating, “I refuse to call them the Nigerian correctional service; they aren’t correcting anything.” He claimed to have been informed that accommodations could be arranged for varying amounts, ranging from N50,000 to N1 million.
Adding to the controversy, social media influencer Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, released audio in which Bobrisky purportedly claimed to have spent his prison time in a private apartment and suggested he paid N15 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to drop money laundering charges against him.
In light of these allegations, the Federal Government announced the formation of an independent investigative panel on September 30. Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the committee would examine the claims of misconduct within the Nigerian Correctional Service, including the alleged provision of alternative housing for Bobrisky.
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