LAGOS, Nigeria — The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has confirmed the arrest of Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, at the Seme Border.
The arrest occurred while the controversial crossdresser was reportedly attempting to flee the country, according to a statement released by the Service on Monday, October 21, 2024, night.
Bobrisky, a social media figure with a large following, is currently undergoing interrogation.
The NIS spokesman, Deputy Controller of Immigration (DCI) KT Udo, described the arrest as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to address “issues of public concern” related to Bobrisky’s activities in recent months.
“He is undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action,” Udo said in the statement.
“The Service assures the public that it will continue to be civil and professional in its statutory responsibility of manning the country’s borders.”
The arrest comes amidst a series of allegations and legal challenges involving Bobrisky.
Earlier this year, Nigerian blogger Martins Otse, known online as VeryDarkMan, exposed an audio recording wherein Bobrisky accused officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of collecting ₦15 million from Bobrisky during his naira-spraying controversy in April, allegedly in exchange for dropping money laundering charges.
The viral videos prompted both public outrage and investigations by Nigerian authorities.
In a related development, Bobrisky was sentenced to six months imprisonment earlier this year.
He was released in August, but further allegations surfaced claiming that he had paid substantial amounts of money to secure favourable conditions during his time in prison.
Responding to these allegations, Bobrisky has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, both the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) launched internal investigations into the claims.
The case gained wider attention when the House of Representatives opened a probe into the matter, inviting the parties involved for questioning.
As a result, the federal government suspended several senior officers of the NCoS pending the outcome of the investigations.
On September 30, 2024, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo inaugurated a panel to examine allegations of misconduct within the prison system.
The panel submitted its report this week, confirming that Bobrisky had served his six-month sentence but was granted special privileges, including access to television and a refrigerator.
While the specifics of the ongoing interrogation are yet to be disclosed, Bobrisky’s arrest marks the latest development in a highly publicised and controversial saga that continues to grip the nation.
Further actions by authorities are expected as the investigation continues.
