The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has initiated a full investigation into allegations of bribery within the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The directive follows claims made in a viral video by Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, who alleged that his six-month prison sentence was bypassed through a bribery arrangement.
In the video, Bobrisky claimed that his godfather, in collaboration with the Controller General of the Correctional Service, arranged for him to serve his sentence in a private apartment rather than in a correctional facility.
Bobrisky recounted that following his sentencing, his godfather assured him he would not enter prison and arranged for an apartment near the correctional facility where he was kept under strict instructions not to leave. He claimed to have paid N2 million to secure this arrangement, part of a larger sum initially requested.
In response, Minister Tunji-Ojo, through a statement by his media aide Alao Babatunde, condemned the alleged misconduct and emphasized that any form of indiscipline or corruption would not be tolerated within the Nigerian Correctional Service or other paramilitary services under his ministry’s control.
He expressed the ministry’s commitment to maintaining its core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability.
The minister has appointed a special investigative team led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, to thoroughly probe the allegations.
Tunji-Ojo assured the public that the investigation would be transparent, rigorous, and impartial, with any personnel found guilty facing appropriate disciplinary actions. The outcome of the investigation is expected to be made public once concluded.