Bob Risky smuggled in eight ATM cards to withdraw N35 million bribe for prison officials —Baale of Kirikiri, Chief Babalode Shabi .
A new controversy has emerged following the recent imprisonment of popular crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, after a traditional ruler in Lagos accused officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service of being complicit in an alleged bribery scheme to secure VIP treatment for the socialite during his six months stay in prison.
Chief Babalola Shabi, the Baale of Kirikiri Town famously known as “Baale No-Nonsense” alleged that Bobrisky smuggled eight Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards into the Kirikiri custodial facility. These cards were reportedly used to transfer a total of N35 million through Point of Sale (POS) operators in the area, allegedly to bribe prison officials for preferential treatment.
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Shabi made the accusation during a town hall meeting organized by the Lagos State Police Command on Saturday, as part of events commemorating National Police Week.
The traditional ruler claimed that Bobrisky never fully served his sentence behind bars. Instead, he was allegedly housed in a private apartment outside the prison, facilitated by corrupt correctional officers. Shabi revealed, “Before the truth came out, everyone believed he was in Kirikiri serving his time. But the reality is, Bobrisky was living comfortably outside the prison walls, thanks to a criminal collaboration involving some officials.”
Shabi stated that it was his intervention that uncovered the scandal, explaining that he had invited local POS operators to his palace. This led to an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which tracked the illicit transactions and uncovered the money trail.
“I personally called in the EFCC after I summoned the POS operators to my palace. From there, they were able to trace the transactions and decode the money trail,” Shabi said.
The Baale further explained that the arrangement involved correctional officers contacting POS vendors to withdraw money from Bobrisky’s ATM cards. He expressed shock at the ease with which N35 million was quickly sourced, suggesting a well-organized ring of collaborators.
“It was shocking how N35 million could be sourced from around here so quickly. Clearly, this was not a one-man job. The officials who aided him have been suspended,” Shabi added.
He also revealed that the property where Bobrisky was allegedly kept during this time had been identified and demolished. Both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the EFCC have since interrogated Shabi about the incident.
“The DSS first invited me for questioning, and I told them everything I knew. The EFCC also reached out, and I gave them my full cooperation. As a community leader, I cannot allow this type of impunity to go unchecked,” he stated.
Shabi’s account contradicts an earlier report by a National Assembly panel, which claimed that although Bobrisky enjoyed preferential treatment, he remained within the prison premises throughout his sentence.
Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison in 2024 for abusing the naira and was released in August of that year.
