Baale: Bobrisky Paid N35m, Lived Outside Prison
A traditional ruler in Lagos State has alleged that crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, bribed his way to luxury and freedom during his time at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
Chief Babalola Shabi, the Baale of Kirikiri Town—also called “Baale No-Nonsense”—claimed during a town hall meeting on April 5 that Bobrisky smuggled eight ATM cards into prison and used them to withdraw N35 million through Point of Sale (POS) operators, allegedly to pay prison officials for VIP treatment.
According to Shabi, Bobrisky never truly served his sentence behind bars. Instead, he was reportedly moved to a private residence outside the prison with the help of correctional officers. “Everyone thought he was in prison, but in truth, he was living comfortably outside, aided by a criminal collaboration,” the Baale said.
Shabi revealed that he initiated an internal investigation after noticing suspicious activities involving POS operators in the community. He summoned the operators to his palace and reported the findings to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “The EFCC traced the transactions and uncovered the money trail,” he stated.
He added that the correctional officials would approach POS agents to withdraw cash from the ATM cards smuggled in by Bobrisky. “The speed and scale of the N35 million withdrawal showed it was an organised ring,” he said, adding that the involved officers have since been suspended.
The Baale further disclosed that the house allegedly used to hide Bobrisky during his sentence has been demolished. He also confirmed that both the Department of State Services (DSS) and EFCC had questioned him about the case.
“I’ve cooperated fully with both agencies. As a community leader, I won’t tolerate this level of impunity,” Shabi stated.
His account contradicts an earlier National Assembly report which acknowledged that Bobrisky received special treatment in custody but insisted he remained within the prison premises throughout his sentence.
