On July 28, 2024, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, where he announced a comprehensive and unconditional investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). This directive followed claims of misconduct involving NCoS officials, which the Minister strongly condemned.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the Minister’s media aide, Babatunde Alao, Tunji-Ojo made it clear that the alleged behaviour was completely unacceptable. He emphasized that the Ministry of Interior will enforce a policy of zero tolerance towards any form of indiscipline, corruption, or unprofessional behaviour in all paramilitary services under its jurisdiction. Tunji-Ojo vowed that any compromise on the Ministry’s core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability would not be tolerated.
The Minister ordered the formation of a special investigative team, which will be led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani. This team has been tasked with thoroughly investigating the allegations and submitting a comprehensive report. Tunji-Ojo reassured the public that the investigation will be conducted rigorously, transparently, and impartially. He also promised that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken against any personnel found guilty of corruption.
These developments come in response to a bribery accusation made by social media personality Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky. In a video shared by blogger Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky alleged that he had bribed a high-ranking officer of the Nigeria Correctional Service.
In a separate audio recording that went viral, Bobrisky further claimed to have paid officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him.
Reacting to the allegations, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, announced that the Commission’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had set up a team of investigators to thoroughly probe the matter.
Bobrisky had been jailed by a Federal High Court in Lagos in April 2024 after pleading guilty to charges of naira abuse brought by the EFCC. He was sentenced without the option of a fine and spent six months in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre before being released on August 5, 2024.
