Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an investigation into alleged bribery within the Nigerian Correctional Service following claims by popular figure Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky. While the minister did not reference a specific case, the probe comes in response to a viral voice note shared by Martins Otse, a.k.a. VeryDarkMan, in which Bobrisky alleged that his six-month prison sentence for abusing naira notes was circumvented through bribery.
In the voice note, Bobrisky claimed his “godfather” and the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service arranged for him to serve his sentence in a private apartment, rather than prison, after a N10 million bribe was paid. He also alleged that he paid N15 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to have money laundering charges dropped.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who was named in the voice note, has denied any involvement with Bobrisky. Through his lawyers, Falana issued a 24-hour ultimatum to VeryDarkMan to retract the statement or face legal action for defamation. In the viral recording, Bobrisky allegedly claimed that Falana, along with musician Falz, contacted him to help secure a presidential pardon for a fee of N10 million.
Responding to the bribery allegations, Minister Tunji-Ojo called for an immediate and thorough investigation. In a statement by his media aide, Alao Babatunde, the minister emphasized that corruption and unprofessional conduct within the Nigerian Correctional Service would not be tolerated, and those found guilty would face severe consequences.
“The ministry will not compromise on its core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability. We will leave no stone unturned in rooting out corruption,” the minister said. A special investigative team led by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, has been tasked with conducting the probe.
Meanwhile, Falana’s legal team has demanded an immediate retraction and apology from VeryDarkMan for the defamatory statements. In a letter from Taiwo Olawanle of Falana and Falana Chambers, the social media influencer was warned that legal action would be pursued if the demands were not met within 24 hours.
The letter highlighted the damaging claims against Falana, stating that the accusations portrayed him as deceitful and involved in corrupt activities, which were entirely false. The legal team stressed that while freedom of expression is protected by the constitution, it does not extend to spreading baseless allegations that harm the reputation of others.
If VeryDarkMan fails to comply, Falana’s lawyers have indicated they will seek legal remedies, including monetary damages for the defamatory publication.
