•Otse appears before house committee, declines to speak because Bobrisky was absent
The federal government, yesterday, inaugurated an independent investigative panel to inquire into the allegations of corruption and gross violations of standard operating procedures within the Nigeria Correctional Service (NcoS).
This was as a social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, yesterday, told a joint House of Representatives Committee investigating allegations of corruption against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the NCoS that he would not say a word if Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky did not appear before the committee.
Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, said the panel must also look at the recent allegation that some correctional service personnel had provided an alternative accommodation for Bobrisky
The minister said the panel became necessary in order to sanitise the service towards attaining transparency and accountability.
The minister, who is also the Chairman of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), had earlier suspended several officers overseeing the Maximum and Minimum Custodial Centres in Kirikiri, Lagos State, following allegations of misconduct involving Bobrisky.
But, at the investigative hearing, yesterday, VDM arrived at the National Assembly Complex alongside with his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju to appear before the committee and shed more light on the allegation.
While Bobrisky was absent, his lawyer Averosoghene Omuvwie appeared before the committee as well as representatives of the EFCC, and NCoS.
Bobrisky’s lawyer told the Committee that his client could not honour the invitation due to Illness.
When the Committee asked Omuvwie to provide it with evidence from Bobrisky’s doctor on his ill health, the lawyer said he had no such document.
When Invited to the podium to brief the committee, VDM declined to speak further on the issue.
He stated: “I don’t know why I will be here and the person who made these allegations is not here. Bobrisky said in the voice note that there is a godfather. Maybe the godfather told him not to come. He has disrespected this committee by not coming here.
“You are already threatening me with arrest. If you detain me, I will stay in the cell. If Bobrisky is not here, I will not say anything. If I say anything, let me die.”
But members of the Committee ordered Verydarkman to return and answer questions, adopting his claims, or risk being detained by the parliament.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, said VDM could not dictate to the committee.
His words: “You are not expected to dictate to us whether Bobrisky comes here or not, it is left to us to decide, we can also compel him to come before us we can invoke our powers to arrest him.
“We can compel Bobrisky to appear before us and even arrest him if necessary. Your allegations have led to the invitation of top government officials, so it’s imperative you speak to these allegations.
“You are here already to testify, I will advise you go ahead, don’t let anyone deceive you. To the lawyer please advise your client.”
However, the blogger remained adamant, insisting that his lawyer would speak instead despite the committee’s threat to invoke legislative powers and order his arrest right away.
But his lawyer, Adeyanju prevailed on him to address the committee.
VeryDarkMan explained that the audio recording was received from someone whom Bobrisky owed money, as he submitted part of the recording to the committee.
The blogger also alleged that Bobrisky paid some millions of Naira to secure a choice place in prison.
Bobrisky had since denied the allegations while the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) have ordered investigations into the allegations by the blogger.
VDM stated: “In the video I posted online, I explained everything, for the people that watched the video, it was well detailed. How I got hold of that recording is as a result Bobrisky blackmailing somebody he owes money.
“According to the proof of chat that was sent to me, the person borrowed Bobrisky N4 million when he was in EFCC detention or rather in the private apartment. The person gave him the money on 19/6/2024 it was transferred to this account number 096411279 Kuda bank, Abiola Okuneye. As you know Bobrisky’s name is Okuneye, apparently this is his brother’s bank.
“When it was time to get the money back, according to the story he told me and the evidence I saw, he told Bobrisky he wanted to use the money to complete his building in Lagos. When it was time to pay, from the evidence I have here, he sent Bobrisky message, he refused to respond, he sent him another one, he refused to respond.
“When Bobrisky finally responded, Bobrisky said he would give him the money on September 19. September 1st, the guy reached out to Bobrisky, Bobrisky refused.
“The next thing that followed was blackmail. He (Bobrisky) said that I will say you are smooching me and kissing. The guy felt VDM has the platform to call people that owe money and they would pay.
“A friend of mine reached out to me and said VDM see what is happening. I asked him to send the receipt. When he sent it, immediately I made the first video and I said Bobrisky, I’m giving you 4 hours to pay back. He started begging the guy and immediately he paid back.
“I said even if you pay, the story is out there. EFCC cannot be going around harassing young boys and somebody with a godfather will be pulling stunt. I was detained in the prison, my very good friend, Seun Kuti was detained too. Bobrisky is not in any way better than them.”
Subsequently, the committee summoned Bobrisky and adjourned sine die..
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