N15m bribe claim: EFCC grills Bobrisky, cross-dresser detained in Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday grilled controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, over his claim that he bribed some officials of the commission with the sum of N15m.
Bobrisky was heard in a viral audio released by activist, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, claiming that some yet-to-be-identified EFCC officials collected the said amount (N15m) from him to drop the money laundering charges against him (Bobrisky).
A source in the anti-graft commission disclosed that Bobrisky’s interrogation began immediately after he was moved to Abuja.
“He was interrogated for hours upon his arrival here. He is still with us as I speak (8:30pm),” the source in the commission added.
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The anti-graft body had earlier disclosed that the cross-dresser was flown to Abuja over his failure to honour its invitations.
The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed this on Friday morning, adding that Bobrisky could face a fresh charge from the commission if his allegations against the anti-corruption agency were false.
“Bobrisky is on his way to Abuja as we speak,” Oyewale added.
Okuneye’s invitation by the commission reportedly followed a voice recording shared by controversial social critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.
However, the EFCC denied the allegation, stating that the case was legally dismissed and set up a panel to investigate the matter further.
On Thursday night, Bobrisky, while attempting to leave the country for London, the United Kingdom, was removed from an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The popular cross-dresser posted on his Instagram page to alert followers about the arrest, stating that he had sustained injuries during an altercation with the immigration officers.
According to sources in the commission, Bobrisky did not honour invitations by the commission for him to substantiate his claims, hence the reason for his arrest.
However, a top source in the commission said on Friday that Bobrisky was picked up to prove his allegations against the EFCC.
The source said, “We have arrested him in Lagos and will be flown to Abuja today. He accused us of bribery and corruption; we invited him severally, but he did not show up. He who alleges must be ready to prove. Those allegations are too weighty to allow slide.
“Also, remember that he has also refused to show up at the National Assembly on the matter. We are left with no other choice than to pick him up so that he can substantiate his claims. And that is what we have done. “
Another source said he had been on the watch list of the commission and other security agencies hence it was impossible for him to escape out of the country.
The source said, “He should know that he cannot sneak out of the country when he has made that kind of allegations against not only our commission but others. He should know we would get him and that it was a matter of time.”
At a press briefing on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, had stated that one could be charged for giving false information to the EFCC, let alone making false allegations against the commission.
Meanwhile, the EFCC’s spokesperson stated that Bobrisky failed to respond to multiple summonses from both the commission and the House of Representatives concerning his claims of having paid an N15m bribe to the EFCC to dismiss money laundering charges against him.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Oyewale said, “Those that are accusing the EFCC of arresting Bobrisky are not aware of the developments concerning his matter. He alleged that he bribed EFCC officers.
“It is public knowledge that he made that allegation and we have invited him to come and unravel whoever is involved in the matter. He was also invited by the House of Representatives committee for the public hearing. He neither responded to us nor made himself available to the House of Reps.
“We arrested him because he did not honour our invitation. Once he tells us who collected money from him, we will release him.”
Addressing the timing of Bobrisky’s arrest, which occurred when he was already aboard a London-bound plane, Oyewale simply said, “A suspect can be arrested anywhere.”
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