On Monday, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) declared social media influencer Okuneye Idris, popularly known as Bobrisky, a person of interest in an ongoing investigation.
The NIS confirmed that its officers apprehended Bobrisky at the Seme border as he attempted to flee the country earlier in the day.
The controversy surrounding Bobrisky began in April 2024 when the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced him to six months in prison for naira abuse. While he was officially held at Kirikiri Prison, reports later emerged suggesting that he had spent only three weeks there before being quietly moved to a private location.
In a statement signed by the NIS Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Udo, the agency confirmed that Bobrisky had been intercepted at the Seme border while attempting to flee the country. The statement, titled “Nigeria Immigration Service Intercepts Idris Okuneye (Bobrisky) at Seme Border,” noted that he was undergoing interrogation and would be handed over to the relevant authorities.
The NIS emphasized its commitment to professionalism in its duty to secure Nigeria’s borders.
Bobrisky’s arrest followed the submission of a report from a panel set up to investigate allegations of corruption within the Nigeria Correctional Service concerning his detention. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had established the panel, led by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalena Ajani, to probe the alleged misconduct.
While presenting the panel’s findings on Monday, Uju Agomoh, Executive Director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, stated that no evidence had been found to support claims that Bobrisky spent time outside the prison after his sentencing. Agomoh confirmed that Bobrisky was transferred between custodial centers and ultimately discharged after serving his sentence.
However, she noted that Bobrisky received numerous privileges during his incarceration, including a private cell, access to a humidifier, frequent visits from family and friends, and possibly access to his phone.
Agomoh added that the panel recommended further investigation into whether these privileges were financially motivated and called for clear guidelines to prevent favoritism based on an inmate’s socio-economic status.
In another related case, the panel confirmed that Deputy Controller of Corrections Kelvin Iloafonsi Ikechukwu received money in his personal account from Abdulrasheed Maina’s son. Although the funds were reportedly for health and welfare needs, the panel found Ikechukwu’s actions unethical and inconsistent with institutional regulations.
