Nigeria prison officials suspended amid Bobrisky bribery allegations
- Two senior Nigerian prison officials have been suspended due to bribery allegations involving Bobrisky, a controversial transgender celebrity.
- Bobrisky, whose real name is Idris Okuneye, has denied claims of bribing officials to drop money laundering charges against her.
- The suspensions and ongoing investigations highlight the prevalent issues of corruption within Nigeria's government and prison system.
In Nigeria, two senior officials from the Nigerian Correctional Service have been suspended amid allegations of bribery related to Bobrisky, a well-known transgender celebrity. The allegations surfaced after social media influencer Martins Otse claimed that anti-corruption officials were bribed to dismiss money laundering charges against Bobrisky. The celebrity, whose real name is Idris Okuneye, has publicly denied these claims, asserting that she did not pay any money to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Bobrisky was released from prison last month after serving a six-month sentence for abusing the local currency, naira. Although a court dismissed the money laundering charges against her, a viral video allegedly features someone claiming to be Bobrisky admitting to paying $9,000 to EFCC officials. This has led to further scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding her imprisonment and release. The Nigerian Correctional Service and the EFCC have initiated investigations into the bribery allegations, which have sparked widespread condemnation in the country. The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board announced the suspension of the implicated officers to facilitate a thorough investigation. This incident underscores the ongoing issues of corruption within Nigeria's governmental and prison systems, as the country ranked 145 out of 180 in Transparency International's corruption index last year. The outcome of the investigations is expected to be made public once concluded.