Inside Nigeria
Bobrisky: FG launches probe into alleged bribery scandal in NCoS
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has mandated a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
This was disclosed in a statement signed by his media aide, Babatunde Alao, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The investigation was triggered after popular social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, released an audio recording on Tuesday night.
In the recording, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, allegedly claimed that he bribed officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with N15 million and the Controller General of the NCoS, Haliru Nababa, to avoid serving time in jail.
Reacting to the allegations, Tunji-Ojo condemned the purported actions, describing them as reprehensible and unacceptable.
He stressed that any form of corruption, indiscipline, or unprofessionalism within the NCoS would be met with zero tolerance and strict disciplinary measures.
“The Ministry will not tolerate any compromise on its core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability.
“We will leave no stone unturned in rooting out corruption and ensuring that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
The Minister has called for a special investigative team headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, to probe these allegations and submit a comprehensive report.
The Minister reassured the public that the investigation would be rigorous, transparent, and impartial, adding that appropriate disciplinary actions would be taken against any personnel found guilty.
Bobrisky, has since reacted to the viral voice recording in an Instagram post on Wednesday, describing the audio as fake.
He wrote: “My attention has been drawn to a fake voice recording circulating on the internet that I paid EFCC 15 million naira and that I was never in prison.
“I didn’t pay any EFCC money; it is a very big lie. I served my term in full and I came out. Discard any false information.”
Bobrisky was released from the Kirikiri Correctional Centre on August 5 after six months in custody.
A Federal High Court in Lagos had jailed him in April with no option of a fine following his guilty plea to the naira abuse charge preferred against him by the EFCC.