By Abiola Olawale
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has confirmed the arrest of popular crossdresser Okuneye Idris, otherwise known as Bobrisky, triggering reactions from Nigerians.
The NIS said Bobrisky was arrested at the Seme border while attempting to flee the country on Monday.
This comes after a social media activist Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), in a social media post on Monday revealed that Bobrisky was arrested by operatives of the NIS.
Confirming the development, the Service Public Relations Officer, Mr Kenneth Udo, in a press statement, said Bobrisky was apprehended because of an ongoing probe.
However, Udo failed to give specific information on the details of the ongoing probe against Bobrisky.
The statement reads in part: “The Service wishes to inform the public that OKUNEYE IDRIS is a person of interest over recent issues of public concern.
“In keeping with its commitment to securing the borders, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) intercepted Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, otherwise known as Bobrisky, at the Seme Border over an attempt to exit the country.
“He is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
“The Service assures the public that it will continue to be civil and professional in its statutory responsibility of manning the country’s borders.”
The New Diplomat reports that Bobrisky’s arrest by the NIS followed the submission of a report by the panel set up to investigate the allegations of corruption against the Nigeria Correctional Service over his detention.
It would be recalled that on Monday, the executive director and founder of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Uju Agomoh, said the report submitted by the investigative panel revealed that Bobrisky served his jail term but enjoyed several privileges.
Reading the phase one report of the panel at the Ministry of Interior, Agomoh said the panel discovered that Bobrisky served his time in prison from 12th April 2024 to the 5th August 2024.
Agomoh said during this period, Bobrisky was transferred from the Kuje Custodial Centre to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri-Apapa, Lagos, and then to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, from where he was discharged after the completion of his sentence.
It would also be recalled that the controversy surrounding Bobrisky began in April 2024 when he was sentenced to six months in prison by the Federal High Court in Lagos for naira abuse.
Although he was officially incarcerated at Kirikiri Prison, reports emerged later alleging that Bobrisky spent only three weeks in the facility before being discreetly moved to a private location.
This prompted widespread speculation that his release and special treatment were facilitated through bribery, with accusations of an N15m payment made to officials to secure his transfer and preferential conditions.
The situation escalated in late September when a social media influencer, VeryDarkMan, posted an audio recording allegedly involving Bobrisky.
In the leaked recording, Bobrisky purportedly claimed that music artist Falz and his father, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, had approached him during his imprisonment, seeking N10m to secure a presidential pardon.
In response, Falana and Falz issued a cease-and-desist letter on October 16, 2024, demanding a retraction and public apology for what they termed defamatory statements.
Bobrisky, however, denied making the claims, stating that he was not responsible for the leaked content and urging the Falanas to hold VDM accountable instead.
