Prison experts have provided insights into the reasons behind the separation of controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, from other inmates at the correctional center, while refuting claims of a VIP section.
During an appearance on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Friday, Bishop Kayode Williams, Director General of the Prison Rehabilitation Mission, discussed the various accommodations for inmates based on their classifications. He stated, “There are accommodations for condemned prisoners, who must not mingle with other inmates, and a second category for convicted inmates, who essentially run the prison.”
Regarding Bobrisky’s situation, Williams emphasized the need for special arrangements, noting, “Given his transgender appearance, would it be appropriate to place him in the general cell? The first thing they do is determine how to accommodate someone like him. He has been placed in protective custody due to safety concerns, as his appearance could put him at risk. He resembles a woman and may attract unwanted attention from other inmates.”
Francis Enobore, former National PRO of the Nigerian Correctional Service, supported Williams’ remarks, explaining that the service profiles each inmate to ensure their safety and maintain the prison's security. “Although he admitted in court that he is a man, he presents as a woman. Many inmates are unrepentant homosexuals, and without proper measures, there could be serious security issues,” he warned.
However, Enobore dismissed claims that Bobrisky was given a private section, asserting, “There is no private apartment or special treatment in the prison.”
The controversy surrounding Bobrisky’s incarceration intensified earlier in the week when Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, released a voice note in which Bobrisky allegedly claimed that after his conviction for abusing naira notes in April, his godfather and the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service arranged for him to serve his six-month sentence in a private apartment.
In related news, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board announced the suspension of two deputy controllers overseeing the Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre in Lagos, following allegations of bribery linked to Bobrisky’s case.
