The Nigeria Correctional Service has refuted claims that controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye also known as Bobrisky, who was handed a six-month prison sentence over abuse of the naira notes, was moved from the Ikoyi custodial centre to its other facility in Kirikiri, Lagos State.

Bobrisky was reported to have been discreetly transferred to Kirikiri Prison last weekend where he was expected to complete his term.

An NCoS official however told PUNCH Metro on Thursday that he was still held in the Ikoyi prison.

The official who pleaded anonymity as he was not permitted to speak on the matter, said the convict did not commit a capital offence to warrant his transfer to a maximum prison where inmates serving life and death sentences were mostly kept.

“Bobrisky has not been moved, he is still here in Ikoyi. He was not sentenced to death and didn’t get a life sentence either. Those people sentenced to death and given life sentences are mostly kept in the maximum prison. That is mostly based on capital punishment. As for Bobrisky, he didn’t commit a capital offence, so why would they take him to Kirikiri,” the source said.

Another official who also preferred not to be mentioned as he was not in the official capacity to speak to the press, said that although there were plans to move some inmates across the custodial centres in the state, it was still being proposed.

The NCoS official added that the move was for decongestion.

“Sometimes, when we discover that the population of inmates is much in a facility, we decide to move them just to decongest. We are only considering that at the moment and not that anyone has been moved. If the prison authorities want to move, they have the right. We also do so if the person has a communicable disease or because the inmate requested it for proximity to the family or an appeal on humanitarian grounds.

“The leadership might also say, ‘Let’s spread those who have less than one year sentence’, which may apply to Bobrisky, just to create space for those awaiting trial. But such people rarely go to the maximum prison,” the source disclosed.

Calls made to the spokesperson for the Lagos State Command of the NCS, Rotimi Oladokun, went unanswered. A text message sent to him had yet to be responded to as of the time this report was filed.

PUNCH Metro reported that the crossdresser shares the same cell with male inmates and was examined at the point of admission while the outcome of the examination revealed that he had no realignment of gender or genital organs.

An official source who disclosed this to our correspondent added that the convicted crossdresser had been observing the rules and procedures obtained in the facility.

Bobrisky was arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. According to the commission, Bobrisky was invited due to a video report of spraying new naira notes at the premiere of Eniola Ajao’s movie titled, ‘Ajakaju’, which was held at FilmOne Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos, on March 24, 2024.

He was convicted by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday, April 5, 2024, after pleading guilty to the charges of naira abuse levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC filed six counts against him, with the first four counts related to naira abuse, and the last two counts concerning alleged money laundering.

Before reading the charges, the EFCC prosecutor requested the court to dismiss counts five and six.

Bobrisky pleaded guilty to the four counts of naira abuse. Before his conviction, he asked to be pardoned, adding that he was not aware of the laws binding the naira abuse and vowed to educate his fans on social media about it.

Fresh facts have emerged that the embattled Nigerian cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye widely known as Bobrisky who was sentenced to a six-month jail term for abusing the Naira has been transferred from the Ikoyi Correctional Center to the Kirikiri Prison by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).

This is contrary to reports that Bobrisky is still being held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

According to Goldmynetv, a reliable source who is an official of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) said that the popular cross-dresser is presently held at the Kirikiri Prison and was discreetly transferred since last weekend to Kirikiri.

He stated, “It is procedural that he is moved to Kirikiri since it is an expansive prison compared to what we have here.”

He added that due to security reasons, Okuneye was quietly moved to the facility where he will serve his term.

It would be recalled that Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced the cross-dresser to six months imprisonment.

While sentencing the convict on Friday, April 12, 2024, the judge said the verdict would serve as deterrent to others who are fond of abusing and mutilating the naira.

Bobrisky is being identified as a male based on his admission at the court last week and according to reports that there is no realignment of gender or genital organs.

The source affirmed that the convict has been taken to the male cell with other inmate “and so he will be treated as a normal inmate,” he said.

Okechekwu Pascal, Nigerian Celebrity Barman cum social media influencer, known as Cubana Chief Priest, has broken silence following his ordeal with the operatives of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Cubana Chief Priest earlier entered a ‘not guilty’ plea to charges of tampering and abusing the naira during his arraignment at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday.

The socialite faced three counts of naira abuse stemming from his actions at some social events and was charged before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court in Lagos by the Economic and Finacial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Cubana Chief Priest was later granted a bail of ₦10 million with two sureties in like sum by the court after pleading not guilty to the charges brought against him.

A few minutes after the court judgement, the socialite posted about not being small on his Instagram page.

He wrote, “Seeing All You Messages & Love I’m So Humbled. Now It’s Confirmed CP No Small. Money Na Water”

EFCC Just Scapegoating Celebrities – Seun Jimoh

Meanwhile, popular Nollywood actor, Seun Jimoh has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) of “scapegoating” celebrities in its ongoing clampdown on Naira abusers.

He stated this in an Instagram post on Tuesday while reacting to the news that the EFCC is set to arraign popular socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, for Naira abuse.

The arraignment of Cubana Chief Protest comes days after popular crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, was sent to six months imprisonment for a similar offence.

Jimoh said it is unfair that certain people are being selected for a crime almost 70% of Nigerians or more are guilty of with overwhelming video evidence all over the internet.