Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has called for urgent reforms within Nigeria’s correctional and judicial systems in response to a high-profile scandal involving popular cross-dresser and social media influencer Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky.

The scandal, which has captured national attention, revolves around allegations of preferential treatment and corruption during Okuneye’s recent prison sentence.

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Tunji-Ojo made these comments during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The saga began after Okuneye was sentenced to six months in prison in April 2024, following charges of naira abuse and allegations of money laundering.

After his release in August, viral audio surfaced, featuring allegations from a blogger, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, who claimed that Bobrisky had paid officials millions of naira for special privileges during his imprisonment.

Among the allegations, Otse claimed that Bobrisky paid ₦15 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to avoid further charges, and additional payments to secure favorable conditions while incarcerated.

Bobrisky has denied all allegations, but the claims have prompted an official investigation.

He acknowledged the broader concerns highlighted by the case.

“When you have an institutional problem, you don’t just provide a knee-jerk approach to solving it,” he said, stressing the importance of addressing the root causes of corruption within Nigeria’s institutions.

Following public outcry, the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) initiated internal probes, while the Federal Government responded by suspending several senior officers at the NCoS.

Additionally, the House of Representatives invited involved parties for a formal inquiry into the matter.

On September 30, 2024, Tunji-Ojo established a dedicated committee to investigate allegations of gross misconduct within the NCoS and, more broadly, to assess integrity lapses across the correctional system.

Preliminary findings from the committee indicated that there was “no evidence thus far” that Okuneye had received any unauthorized privileges or had spent time outside the prison during his sentence, which lasted from April 12 to August 5, 2024. Nonetheless, Minister Tunji-Ojo underscored the importance of long-term solutions.

“We set up that committee to look into all the issues, beyond Bobrisky, beyond people absconding – it is a whole institutional issue,” he explained. “We cannot transfer today’s problem to the future.”

The Plateau State Police Command has dismissed rumors of a bomb explosion in the Jos terminus area on Tuesday, urging residents to resume normal activities without fear.

Reports of an alleged explosion in the Jos city center had stirred anxiety early Tuesday.

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However, Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina quickly clarified that there was no explosive threat in the area.

In an official statement, the police explained that a shallow hole was discovered along Murtala Way near the Old JUTH (Jos University Teaching Hospital) fence, sparking initial fears of a planted Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

According to CP Adesina, police immediately responded by dispatching the Area Commander, the Officer in Charge of the Command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit, and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to secure the site and investigate.

After an on-site assessment led by the EOD team, it was confirmed that the area posed no threat, as no explosive devices were found in or near the site.

The police statement emphasized that the hole was safe and urged the public to disregard rumors of an explosion.

CP Adesina commended the community for their vigilance and cooperation, thanking residents for working alongside law enforcement to maintain public safety.

He assured the public that the police would continue to monitor the area and maintain security across Plateau State.

“Residents are advised to remain calm and vigilant, and report any suspicious activities to the authorities,” the statement added.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified that allegations of the abuse of the Nigerian currency, the naira, at Senator Danjuma Goje’s daughter’s wedding was unfounded.

It took to its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X on Monday to clarify that, after analysing the video, “findings showed that the alleged naira abuse actually happened but not at the wedding of Goje’s daughter,” and that it was action on it accordingly.

In the statement, its Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, averred that, “the alleged naira abuse actually happened but not at the wedding of Goje’s daughter but at the wedding dinner of Amina Babagana Zannah”.

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The anti graft agency assured that it would not shirk its responsibilities, neither would it found hounding those wrongly accused. “The Commission has invited the Nigerien groom, Mohammad, to report at its national headquarters in Abuja, with everyone that sprayed naira notes at his wedding with Zannah,” it added.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a viral video where the nation’s currency, Naira, was freely sprayed at a wedding ceremony in Kano, Kano State on Friday, October 24, 2024.

“Allegations of the abuse of the Naira were imputed to Mrs Fauziya Danjuma Goje, daughter of Senator Danjuma Goje, by Nigerians from all walks of life, including an Editorial by a leading and respected National Newspaper.

“As a responsible and accountable anti-corruption agency campaigning against currency mutilation and dollarization of the economy, the EFCC swung into action by analysing the video and findings showed that the alleged naira abuse actually happened but not at the wedding of Goje’s daughter but at the wedding dinner of Amina Babagana Zannah held on the afore-mentioned date.

“Zannah is the daughter of Hajara Seidu Haruna (a.ka. Hafsat Gold Nigeria) who is the Chief Executive Officer of Hafsat Jewellery Enterprise with offices in Abuja, Kano and Dubai (United Arab Emirate).

“Haruna confirmed the viral video. She admitted that the alleged naira abuse took place at the wedding dinner of her daughter on October 24, 2024. The bridegroom, Ibrahim Mohammad hails from Niger Republic and those that allegedly sprayed naira notes and dollar bills were from the groom’s family in Niger Republic.

“The Commission has invited the Nigerien groom, Mohammad, to report at its national headquarters in Abuja, with everyone that sprayed naira notes at his wedding with Zannah.

“While the EFCC appreciates the consciousness its campaigns against naira abuse is building across the country, it will not move against anyone wrongly accused of an alleged crime. The Commission remains steadfast in this crusade and would spare no offender, no matter how highly placed.”