Social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has said the alleged suspension of senior prison officials by the Federal Government last week was only done on social media but not effected in reality.
According to VDM, one of the affected prison officials made this claim himself during the investigative hearing by the House of Representatives on Monday.
The controversy surrounds Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, popularly known as, Bobrisky’s arrest in April by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on charges of money laundering and naira mutilation.
Although the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed the money laundering charges, Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison for naira abuse. Following his release, allegations of bribery surfaced.
A leaked audio recording posted by VeryDarkMan on Instagram allegedly features Bobrisky discussing how EFCC officials extorted N15 million from him to drop the charges.
Following the social media buzz caused by the leaked recording, the House’s joint committee, led by Chairman Jon Ginger Onwusibe, issued a letter summoning several parties to testify about the allegations.
Those summoned include EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, former Lagos Correctional Command Controller ACG Ben Rabbi Freedman, Ja’afaru Ahmed, Secretary of the Correctional Board, Michael Anugwa, DCC in charge of Medium Security, Sikiru Adekunle, DCC in charge of Maximum Security, Bobrisky, and VeryDarkMan.
Last week, the federal government, through the Ministry of Interior, suspended some senior officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service over allegation of infractions raised by Bobrisky.
A statement by the Secretary, Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Board. Ja’afaru Ahmed read, gave the suspension order.
The statement read, “Following the viral video trending on social media on alleged infractions by Officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service relating to Mr. Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, has suspended forthwith the following Senior Officers of the Service:
“Michael Anugwa, Deputy Controller of Corrections, In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kiri-kiri, Lagos State; and Sikiru Adekunle, Deputy Controller of Corrections, In-Charge of Maximum-Security Custodial Centre, Kiri-kiri, Lagos State.
“Also, the Board has suspended ASC II Ogbule Samuel Obinna, serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, for allegedly accompanying a convicted inmate out of the Custodial Centre to a location outside the facility.”
Similarly, the board equally suspended another Senior Officer of the Service, Iloafonsi Ikechukwu, Deputy Controller of Corrections, In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje- Abuja, for allegedly receiving monies on behalf of an inmate.
“The suspension of these officers is to allow for further investigation on the various allegations while assuring that the outcome would be made public when concluded,” Ahmed said.
