The Federal Government has inaugurated a committee to probe allegations of gross misconduct against the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) by crossdresser Idris Okuneye better known as Bobrisky.
The Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo inaugurated the independent investigative panel on Monday.
“We want to really reform the correctional service. Your core responsibility is to investigate specific allegations of corruption, torture, and mistreatment of inmates by correctional officers, especially the immediate one on Bobrisky which I expect to be out in 2 weeks,” he said according to a statement from the ministry.
“We will rely on your legal guidance to be sure that whatever we do is in line with the law of the land. We will rely on you to be able to come up with the way forward, as well as facts that would be made public to Nigerians. I want to say this very clearly, nobody will be shielded. Nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be shielded,” the minister said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Magdalene Ajani is the chairperson of the panel.
Other members include Omotese Eva (Mrs.), Director Legal; Nasir Usman, Director, Joint Services; Dr. Uju Agomoh, President, Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) who is a former Board Member of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA); and Dr. Ikechukwu Ezeugo, Human Rights Radio consultant, a Forensic Researcher and Social Impact Expert with over 27 years experience in corporate leadership.
Earlier, the minister who is the Chairman of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) suspended several officers overseeing the maximum and minimum custodial Centres in Kirikiri, Lagos State following Bobrisky’s allegations.
A phone recording of Bobrisky was released by blogger Martins Otse known as VeryDarkMan where the cross driver alleged that he served. The crossdresser was sentenced to six months in prison for naira abuse. But the leaked phone conversation suggested that he spent it in a VIP facility and not in prison.
The House of Reps had invited VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky, and others over the allegation.