Bobrisky Smuggled ATM Cards Into Prison, Spent N35m for VIP Treatment — Kirikiri Baale

A traditional leader in Lagos, Chief Babalola Shabi has shared new details about the imprisonment of Nigerian crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky.

Chief Shabi, also known as “Baale No-Nonsense” of Kirikiri Town, has accused some officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NIS) of helping Bobrisky live a luxurious life behind bars by accepting bribes.

According to him, Bobrisky allegedly smuggled eight ATM cards into the Kirikiri prison and used them to move about N35 million through Point of Sale (POS) operators in the area.

This money, he claimed, was used to pay off prison officials for special treatment, including allegedly allowing Bobrisky to live in a private apartment outside the prison rather than serving time inside the correctional facility.

Shabi made these claims during a town hall meeting held by the Lagos State Police Command as part of National Police Week events.

The Baale said that the truth only came to light after he personally investigated suspicious activity involving POS agents in the area.

He said, “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 he invited the POS operators to his palace and later alerted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which then began looking into the financial 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,” he said.

According to him, prison officials were seen working with these POS agents to withdraw money directly from Bobrisky’s ATM cards.

He said the amount of money moved in such a short time clearly showed that this wasn’t a solo effort, but part of a bigger, well-organized scheme.

“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.

Shabi also revealed that the house where Bobrisky was allegedly kept has now been identified and demolished.

He said that both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the EFCC questioned him during their investigations, and he fully cooperated, stating that he couldn’t allow such abuse of power in his community.

“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 said.

Interestingly, this version of events challenges an earlier report from a National Assembly committee, which had claimed Bobrisky remained within the prison while receiving some privileged treatment.

Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison in 2024 for defacing the naira and was released in August that year.

Adding to the controversy, outspoken critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, shared an audio recording that he claims is Bobrisky’s voice.

In the voice note, Bobrisky allegedly admits to paying N15 million to EFCC officials to drop a money laundering charge and says a “godfather” helped arrange for him to serve his sentence outside the prison with the help of correctional staff.

KanyiDaily recalls that in November 2024, Bobrisky left Nigeria after multiple arrest by the EFCC.