[By Abigail Philip David]
Social media personality Okuneye Idris, popularly known as Bobrisky, was removed from a KLM flight bound for Amsterdam on Thursday night and detained by immigration officials as he attempted to leave the country.
Bobrisky took to Instagram to inform his followers about the incident, claiming he sustained injuries during an altercation with immigration officers. He alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was behind his detention, writing, “Nigerians help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.”
This latest development follows an incident on October 22, when Bobrisky was reportedly intercepted at the Seme border, allegedly trying to exit Nigeria.
Controversy surrounding Bobrisky began in April 2024, when he was sentenced by the Federal High Court in Lagos to six months in prison for currency abuse. Although initially incarcerated at Kirikiri Prison, reports emerged suggesting he only served three weeks before being moved to a private location. This triggered public speculation, with some alleging that his early transfer was facilitated by a ₦15 million bribe to officials for preferential treatment.
The situation intensified in late September 2024, when social media influencer VeryDarkMan leaked an audio recording allegedly involving Bobrisky. In the recording, Bobrisky purportedly claimed that music artist Falz and his father, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, had approached him during his incarceration, requesting ₦10 million to secure a presidential pardon.
Falana and Falz responded with a cease-and-desist letter on October 16, demanding a retraction and public apology, asserting the claims were defamatory. Bobrisky, however, denied making the statements in the leaked audio, insisting he was not responsible and urging the Falanas to address their concerns with VeryDarkMan.
