Crossdresser Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, made allegations through an audio recording obtained by social media influencer Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.

These claims have prompted the House of Representatives committee to visit Lagos State on Monday, October 21, 2024, to investigate further corruption allegations involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

Ginger Onwusibe, the Chairman of the investigating committee, confirmed the plans to The PUNCH, stating that the committee would be visiting the EFCC office and correctional center in Lagos as part of their investigation.

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“We are visiting the correctional centre in Lagos and the EFCC office in Lagos on Monday next week (October 21).

“After our visit, we shall resume hearing.”

On October 1, 2024, the panel questioned EFCC and NCoS officials, along with Otse, regarding claims that Bobrisky paid N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him.

Bobrisky was convicted on April 5, 2024, for abusing the naira and was sentenced to six months in prison by the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Following his release on August 5, 2024, accusations surfaced that Okuneye received preferential treatment while in custody, leading the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to order an investigation. Two senior officials, Michael Anugwa and Sikiru Adekunle, were suspended.

During the hearing, Otse played an audio recording in which Bobrisky allegedly claimed that he had never spent time in a prison facility but instead stayed in a private apartment due to his connections.

“Truth be told, I won’t lie to you, you’re my person. I’m not in prison, but I’m around there,” the crossdresser allegedly stated.

He further alleged in the recording that he paid N5 million to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to secure a pardon, although the full legal fee was N10 million. Bobrisky claimed his account was frozen, preventing him from paying the full amount.

In a surprising development, VeryDarkMan initially declined to answer the panel’s questions, insisting that Bobrisky must also be summoned for questioning.

He eventually agreed to proceed after receiving assurances from his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, and committee members that Bobrisky would be called to a public hearing to present his side of the story.

During the investigative hearing, officials from both the EFCC and NCoS denied the allegations. Chairman Ginger Onwusibe confirmed that a date for Bobrisky’s questioning would be determined after the committee’s visit to Lagos.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has indicated that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State could face disciplinary measures due to alleged anti-party activities during the recent local government elections in the state.

The party’s interim national publicity secretary, Ibrahim Manga, stated that Fubara’s actions during the polls were inconsistent with the principles of the PDP and may prompt the party to consider sanctions.

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Manga disclosed that Fubara attended the inauguration of 21 local government chairmen who were not members of the PDP, a move viewed by the party as a clear case of anti-party conduct.

The spokesperson pointed out that the event was also endorsed by the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, further complicating the situation.

According to Manga, Fubara’s attendance at the ceremony and the open support given to the opposition candidates signaled a deviation from party loyalty.

“That is a clear anti-party on the part of the governor, and we will wait for him with that himself,” Manga warned. “How will you now say you are serving PDP with this action alone?”

The PDP spokesperson noted that Fubara had been given multiple opportunities to take charge of the party’s political structure in Rivers State, which he reportedly declined.

Manga claimed that Fubara had deferred important leadership decisions to former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, suggesting that Wike was still the authority on party matters in the state even after Fubara assumed office.

Manga described this as the origin of the current internal conflict within the party.

“He was the one who said he cannot take decisions when Nyesom Wike is still alive,” Manga said, referencing Fubara’s initial stance when the party’s National Working Committee sought to replace the state chairman. “At what point did you now stop recognising him as your boss, that you start taking all of those decisions?”

Manga warned that the party must carefully navigate issues of anti-party behavior to avoid alienating its members.

He emphasized that stringent actions could risk depleting the party’s membership if applied indiscriminately.

“Everybody has one action or the other that can constitute what is anti-party in the face of the law,” Manga concluded, suggesting that the party must tread carefully as it addresses allegations of disloyalty and works to maintain internal cohesion.

Several diaspora groups have described the mining reforms and other good governance initiatives of Governor Ademola Adeleke as “impressive” and “unprecedented” since the creation of Osun State.

Gov Adeleke hosted several leaders and indigenes of Osun in London, while on transit to Nigeria in the United Kingdom, after attending a livestock conference in Northern France.

The diaspora groups took the opportunity to list several sectors, where in their opinions, Gov Adeleke has placed the state on global map of good governance.

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A group called Osun UK Professionals led by Bimbo Adekemi expressed surprise at the fast pace at which the Governor has been pursuing infrastructure upgrade across the state at a time of tight economic situation across Nigeria.

The group noted that pursuing infra upgrade is a smart way of jumpstarting the local economy and ease environment of doing business to attract investment into the state.

The group particularly commended the courage of Gov Adeleke for demanding Osun’s rights from mining companies operating in the state, citing ongoing faceoff with Thors Explorations Limited as “a courageous move by selfless leader.

“We note the demand notice on the Thors Explorations as a bold move by a state Governor. Where others pursue under the table deals, Governor Adeleke is seeking due payments into the coffer of Osun state. This is about the first time we will see a Governor not asking for gold bars from mining companies but is seeking validation of state shareholding, payment of PAYE as demanded by law and calling out mining firms on degradation of the environment.

“We salute the courage of Mr Governor in his drive to secure state economic assets. Please don’t give up in your multiples efforts to deliver good governance. Many of us here are encouraged to look back home for home bound investment”, Mrs Adekemi noted.

Another group, named Osun UK Royal Group led by Timileyin Oluyemi Ajayi from Ijeshaland said Gov Adeleke has raised the hope of many Osun indigenes in Europe by his delivery of good programmes in digital economy, health, education, agriculture, climate change and infrastructure.

“Your Excellency, we praise your commitment to public service and your visionary approach to governance. We read all you are doing and our members visited home and also came back with reports of your touching so many areas, towns and villages. We are proud to call ourselves Osun indigenes.

“You have giving Osun new tech policy, new energy policy, new procurement policy, new cocoa and cashew initiatives among others. You are doing so much in empowerment and cooperatives with billions being disbursed to grassroots businesses and artisans.

“You are paying billions of naira in pension and salary debt. Workers welfare is a priority area you have delivered so excellently well. To imagine you have done so much under less than two years is an amazing testimony. We will head home to register to vote ahead of the 2026 governorship election, Prince Oluyemi posited on behalf of the group.

While receiving the various Osun indegenes in London, Gov Adeleke expressed delight at the positive feedback from the diaspora community, assuring that his administration is poised to do more in service of the people.

Describing his main goal as selfless service, Gov Adeleke repeated that leadership is about service and that he is running a race to uplift Osun and her people as quickly as possible.

“We are less than two years in office. We are running a good governance race. I seek to deliver a four-year plan within less than allotted time. The reason is Osun demands urgent actions to fill in the massive developmental gap.

“We need you to join hands with us. Be agents of development by marketing Osun in the diaspora. Set up your business at home. Give back to the community. I promise to ramp up delivery of programmes and projects even as we near two years in office by November 27”, the Governor was quoted as saying.

Governor Adeleke has since returned to Nigeria.