Social media personality Okuneye Idris, popularly known as Bobrisky, has been named a person of interest by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), following an attempt to flee the country on Monday. Bobrisky, who has been at the center of multiple controversies, was intercepted at the Sème border as he tried to exit Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday evening, the NIS confirmed that Bobrisky was attempting to leave the country and was promptly detained. “The Service wishes to inform the public that Okuneye Idris is a person of interest over recent issues of public concern,” the statement read. “In keeping with its commitment to securing the borders, Nigeria Immigration Service intercepted Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, otherwise known as Bobrisky, at the Sème Border over an attempt to exit the country.”
The NIS added that the social media personality was undergoing interrogation and would 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 statement concluded.
Bobrisky’s arrest follows a string of controversies, starting with his sentencing in April 2024 by the Federal High Court in Lagos for naira abuse. He was sentenced to six months in prison, a decision that sparked outrage and widespread speculation. Although officially incarcerated at Kirikiri Prison, reports surfaced suggesting that Bobrisky was only briefly held there before being moved to a private location, raising suspicions of preferential treatment and possible bribery.
Many have speculated that Bobrisky’s transfer and special privileges inside the prison were facilitated through a bribe. Unconfirmed reports suggested that up to N15 million was paid to officials to secure his move to a more comfortable location. These allegations were compounded by further developments in September 2024, when a social media influencer named VeryDarkMan (VDM) leaked an audio recording purportedly involving Bobrisky.
In the leaked audio, Bobrisky allegedly claimed that music artist Falz and his father, renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, had approached him during his imprisonment seeking N10 million to secure a presidential pardon. This caused an uproar, and Falana and Falz subsequently issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding a retraction and public apology for what they called defamatory statements.
Bobrisky, however, has denied making the claims. In a response, he insisted that he was not responsible for the leaked recording and urged the Falanas to direct their complaints toward VeryDarkMan, not him. “I was not responsible for what was leaked,” Bobrisky said in a statement. “If they want an explanation, they should ask VeryDarkMan.”
In an unrelated investigation, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had set up an investigative panel to probe allegations of corruption by the Nigeria Correctional Service in connection with Bobrisky’s incarceration. The panel, chaired by Permanent Secretary Magdalena Ajani, was tasked with examining whether any corrupt practices were involved in Bobrisky’s treatment during his imprisonment.
During the release of the panel’s phase one report on Monday, Uju Agomoh, a member of the panel and Executive Director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, revealed that there was no evidence suggesting that Bobrisky had been allowed to sleep outside the prison walls during his sentence. “The panel did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Mr Okuneye slept outside the custodial centre,” Agomoh stated.
However, Agomoh did reveal that Bobrisky had enjoyed significant privileges while in custody. “The panel found that Mr. Okuneye Idris enjoyed several privileges while in custody,” she noted. These privileges included furnished single cells, humidifiers, family visits, and access to special services such as designated inmates running errands for him and the use of a fridge and television. There was also the possibility that he had access to a mobile phone.
Agomoh stressed that these privileges needed further investigation to determine whether they were linked to corrupt practices by correctional officers. “It is necessary to further investigate if the privileges provided for Okuneye Idris were financially motivated and based on corrupt practices by correctional officers,” she said. “The panel believes that the peculiar case of the inmate, along with his physical appearance and behavior, might have led to these special treatments, but this requires more investigation.”
The panel also touched on a separate incident involving Abdulrasheed Maina’s son, who had sent money to the personal account of Deputy Controller of Corrections Kelvin Iloafonsi Ikechukwu. Agomoh confirmed that this transaction was true but highlighted that the act was unethical and violated institutional regulations. “The panel is of the view that DCC Kelvin Iloafonsi Ikechukwu acted unethically,” she said. “His actions brought the Nigerian Correctional Service into disrepute.”
