Popular Nigerian crossdresser Bobrisky’s imprisonment has sparked a new controversy after it was claimed that he bribed officials to obtain VIP treatment while he was a resident of the Kirikiri Correctional Facility in Lagos and smuggled Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards into the prison.
One prominent community leader and the Baale of Kirikiri Town, Chief Babalola Shabi, has accused Nigerian Correctional Service officials of enabling Bobrisky’s VIP treatment while he was incarcerated.
According to Shabi, who goes by the local moniker “Baale No-Nonsense,” the socialite smuggled eight ATM cards into the prison and used them to transfer ₦35 million to prison officials in exchange for improved living conditions.
The Lagos State Police Command held a town hall meeting on Saturday to commemorate National Police Week, and it was during this meeting that the revelation was made public.
Shabi claimed that Bobrisky had made arrangements to live in a private apartment outside of the prison rather than serving his time behind bars.
According to reports, the alleged arrangement was made possible by a criminal partnership with prison officials who assisted in the money transfer.
“Before the truth came out, everyone believed he was in Kirikiri serving his time. But the reality is that Bobrisky was living comfortably outside the prison walls, thanks to a criminal collaboration involving some officials,” Shabi said.
The Baale further revealed that it was his intervention that exposed the alleged scam. He explained that he invited Point of Sale (POS) operators in the community to his palace, after which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched an investigation.
The investigation traced the transactions and uncovered the ₦35 million that was funneled through POS vendors working with the prison officials.
“The ease with which the cash was sourced indicated a well-organized ring of collaborators,” Shabi added, expressing shock at how quickly such a large sum of money could be withdrawn.
Following the scandal, Shabi disclosed that both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the EFCC interrogated him about the incident.
He also revealed that the property where Bobrisky had been kept during his supposed incarceration had been identified and demolished.
Shabi’s account contradicts a previous report presented by a National Assembly panel, which suggested that while Bobrisky enjoyed preferential treatment, he had remained within the prison walls during his sentence.
However, according to Shabi, Bobrisky’s alleged VIP arrangement was kept hidden until the truth was uncovered.
Bobrisky was released in August 2024 after receiving a six-month prison sentence for misusing the naira in 2024.
Controversial social critic VeryDarkMan has made more allegations, which has intensified the controversy surrounding his imprisonment.
According to a voicemail shared by VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky claimed to have paid EFCC officials ₦15 million to have the money laundering charges against him dropped.
In the audio, Bobrisky also reportedly acknowledged the role of a “godfather” and Nigerian Correctional Service staff in ensuring he served his sentence in a private apartment instead of the prison.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
