- Nigerians hooked on the character that is Bobrisky
Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky needs no introduction as one of Nigeria’s most influential social media personalities. The 33-year-old transgender socialite is a hyper-controversial figure whose star power is used by Nigerian bloggers to drive traffic to their websites.
Bobrisky enjoys basking in the spotlight. And according to him, he harnesses controversy for his own benefit. He makes money by feuding with his followers, as well as with celebrities, and luxuriates in the attention he gets from the public.
However, before fame and fortune smiled on him, he had yearned for the bright lights of stardom when he was still struggling to make ends meet at his place of birth, Ebutte Metta – a densely populated neighbourhood in Lagos State, Nigeria.
But unlike many of his contemporaries, who did not think outside the box, Bobrisky had by age 16 activated his survival instinct in order to get out of poverty and he was also ingenious enough to begin to fend for himself at that age.
The self-styled “mummy of Lagos” and LGBTQ+ activist had also dabbled in various business ventures, which all failed to generate the sort of income he envisioned could take his family out of financial mystery, and it was while he was a student in the University of Lagos, where he studied Accounting, that crossdressing first crossed his mind.
Bobrisky believed that doing something very unusual would catch the attention of Nigerians. He had been having a gruesome experience sponsoring himself through school, and to live from hand to mouth was out of the question for him.
“His late father, Musibau Okuneye, was against the “disturbing” choice he made and continued to threaten fire and brimstone until he resigned himself to the fact that Bobrisky was irredeemable”
It was not easy, however, for Bobrisky to fully embrace his feminine alter ego. He was aware that society would make him feel lonely and rejected.
His late father, Musibau Okuneye, was against the “disturbing” choice he made and continued to threaten fire and brimstone until he resigned himself to the fact that Bobrisky was irredeemable.
After braving the storm and calling the bluff of those who castigated him, Bobrisky began to adorn himself with women’s clothing. And like many tales wherein a hero is first rejected before being accepted into a fold, Bobrisky’s entire family gradually decided not to throw out the baby with the bath water by continuing to disown him.
As a fledgling crossdresser in UNILAG, Bobrisky, who was then in his natural dark skin tone, realised that skin colour sells in Nigeria. And not wanting to waste any more time, he turned to skin bleaching, including selling skin care products, and carved out a niche for himself in that enterprise.
However, Bobrisky did not have a platform to catapult him into the homes of Nigerians. He turned to social media and opened a Snapchat account and like they say, the rest is history.
When Bobrisky “invaded” the internet with his new look and glamorous lifestyle, he began to pique the interest of Nigerians who wanted to know who the new kid on the block was, and Bobrisky was all for it.
It was not long before celebrities, too, got on the Bobrisky bandwagon.
Most notably, Nollywood actress-turned-politician, Tonto Dike, was one of the biggest acquaintances Bobrisky made then.
The relationship later crumbled in 2020 like a pack of cards. Tonto and Bobrisky had an online spat and bloggers, as well as traditional media outlets, had a field day reporting the saga.
Expectedly, following their angry outburst, Tonto and Bobrisky unfollowed each other on their respective social media platforms.
Many Nigerians were confident that the “separation” from Tonto would be the downfall of Bobrisky, but it turned out not to be so, rather the crossdresser continued to arrest the attention of Nigerians as he dished out contents on social media, including on Instagram, and got richer while at it.
Naturally, questions about Bobrisky’s source of wealth began to pop up, and understandably so. And it was during an interview with Nigerian filmmaker, Chude Jideonwo, that Bobrisky let Nigerians in on how he makes money.
“Well, let me start from my adverts (and) influence (on social media). I charge a lot of money. When I tell people that I charge over N30 million to influence people’s brand, people say it’s a lie.
“You know, I like the fact that they’re actually looking down on me because it’s making me go far, do you understand?
“So going back to the money aspect, for my endorsement deals, I charge – for (a period of) six months (and) it depends on the brand I’m influencing for – I charge over N50 million and above,” Bobrisky revealed.
Bobrisky’s influence has grown astronomically since Google in 2016 listed him among the most searched individuals in Nigeria.
His ability to attract and influence “Bobrisky wannabes” in the country, such as James Brown and Jay Boogie, through his fame and popularity made him (Bobrisky) public enemy number one.
The law in Nigeria frowns at same sex relationships or homosexuality, an offence punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment. Even so, the law does not prohibit crossdressing and transgenderism.
In 2021, Bobrisky thus delved, from being a crossdresser, into the world of transgenderism. He teased Nigerians about his plans to go under the knife to “remove” his genitalia (penis), acquire new breasts and a rounder and curvier figure. The transition to a woman left many Nigerians fixated on him.
Strangely, too, as Bobrisky continued to evolve, many Nigerian men on the internet began to drool over his images.
Men would comment under his posts that he looks more beautiful than women, and to rub it in on the feminine gender, Bobrisky went on to win an award for the best dressed female at the movie premiere of Ajanaku: Beast of two worlds.
Bobrisky’s woes began in March this year after he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for throwing money around, commonly called “spraying” in popular parlance, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment without the option of fine.
Coincidentally, during Bobrisky’s travails, another Nigerian celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Celebrity Chief Priest, had also been arrested by the anti-graft agency for a similar offence. The Chief Priest avoided imprisonment but was slapped with a hefty fine by the court.
Chief Priest’s freedom made Nigerians wonder whether Bobrisky was being persecuted because of his sexual orientation and for that, he garnered some sympathy and support from a section of the public.
“But he should watch his mouth. Anyone who wants a long life should watch his or her mouth. Life is too short for nonsense”
After Bobrisky’s release from prison, a social media activist, Martins Otse Vincent, known as VeryDarkMan, released an audio recording in which he alleged that Bobrisky said he had a room to himself in prison and that he paid N15m to some unnamed EFCC officials to drop money laundering charges that was hanging on his neck.
The Federal Government and the National Assembly decided to look into the matter. And at the Joint Committee of the House of Representatives investigating allegations of corruption against some officers of the EFCC, and the Nigeria Correctional Service, where Bobrisky was invited to answer questions by lawmakers, he failed to show up. His lawyer said he was indisposed.
But the EFCC told the Committee that charges of money laundering dropped in Bobrisky’s trial were lawful and in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Last week, Bobrisky was arrested at the Seme border by the Nigeria Immigration Service while attempting to leave Nigeria for Benin Republic.
He was thereafter transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos State, and this is as the National Assembly’s Joint Committee was completing its work and saying that Bobrisky served his jail term but enjoyed some privileges.
However, it was gathered at the weekend that the controversial cross dresser may face fresh criminal charges over claims that he served his jail term in a private apartment and bribed officials of the EFCC to drop money laundering charges against him.
It was learnt that a panel set up to investigate the claims recommended that he should face defamation and criminal charges.
Bobrisky was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on April 12 for abusing the naira. He was released from prison on August 5.
A few weeks after his release, controversial social critic, Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, shared a voice note of a conversation purportedly between Bobrisky and another person, where the cross dresser allegedly stated that he bribed EFCC officers with N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him. He also claimed to have bribed officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service to serve his six-month sentence in a private apartment.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, subsequently constituted an investigation panel, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Magdalena Ajani, on September 30, to probe the claims.
The panel, while presenting its report, said there was no evidence that Bobrisky slept outside the Kirikiri Custodial Centre during his six-month sentence.
Details of the report stated that Bobrisky tarnished the image of the correctional service with false claims.
The panel also asked the Department of State Services to investigate whether, directly or through a proxy, he bribed the EFCC or the correctional service.
If the allegations of bribery by Bobrisky are substantiated, the panel said he should be charged with corrupt practices.
“The Nigerian Correctional Service should file defamation suits against Bobrisky under sections 373-375 of the Criminal Code Act for his false claims about bypassing the prison system, tarnishing the institution’s reputation.
“The DSS should be requested to investigate whether Bobrisky, directly or through a proxy, bribed EFCC or NCoS officials. If substantiated, Bobrisky should face charges under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act for bribing public officials,” the report partly read.
The panel also indicted four correctional officers who were recommended for disciplinary action as outlined in the NCoS’s condition of service, civil service, and applicable laws.
One of those recommended for sanctions is a former Controller of Corrections, Ben Rabbi-Freeman.
He was accused of “effecting the transfer of Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju without proper documentation of Form 5 and Form 5A from the Medium-Security Custody Centre to the Maximum-Security Custodial Centre on April 22, 2024, after over four months of the transfer date, and after the inmate had ended his imprisonment term; backdating the transfer documentation in relation to 1a and 1b above.
“Causing the in-charge Ikoyi Custodial Centre, in-charge Medium-Security Custodial Centre, and in-charge Maximum-Security Custodial Centre to sign backdated transfer documents in relation to Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju.”
In addition, the Deputy Controller of Corrections who was in charge of the Kirikiri Medium Security, Micheal Anugwa, who claimed during a parliamentary inquiry that he had not been suspended despite an official order from the Minister of Interior, was recommended for disciplinary action.
He was indicted for receiving Bobrisky into the Medium Security Custodial Centre without the relevant documentation on April 12, 2024, and without the necessary transfer documentation.
“DCC Balogun Sikiru (retd) — formerly in-charge of Maximum Security Custodial Centre for receiving Bobrisky into the Maximum Security Custodial Centre without the relevant documentation on April 22, 2024, and without the necessary transfer documentation, and DCC Sikiru Kamoru Adekunle who was in charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre for backdating the transfer documentation in relation to receiving of Okuneye Idris into the Maximum Security Custodial Centre on April 22, 2024, which was a period he was yet to resume as the in-charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre.”
The panel further recommended an audit of all inmates and detainees in all custodial centres of the NCoS, their warrants, and other records. It asked that a mechanism be set up to do this and sustain it as an effective oversight weekly.
It demanded “decommercialisation of all welfare and support services to inmates with immediate effect and ensuring that adequate funding and oversight are put in place to ensure the continuation of these. This will also include building sustainable partnerships with civil society organisations (example, with relevant NGOs and professional associations) on some or all of these.”
“Implementation of non-custodial measures across the entire country to help reduce the number of people in custodial centres by utilising imprisonment only as a last resort,” the report added.
A senior management officer of the NCoS said that what people called VIP treatment for certain prisoners was a special facility that had existed for years.
According to the high-ranking officer, custodial centres have different facilities and prisoners’ conditions (health, age, sex) determine which facility they stay in to serve their jail term.
The officer said, “There are different facilities in the custodial centres across the country, and it is not out of place to treat some of the prisoners according to their health conditions, sex, age, and category of the sentence. Importantly, the prison authority also considers human rights and the treatment of the prisoners.
“The case of Bobrisky is an eye-opener for us. The NCoS authority confirmed that he is a woman from the middle upward, while he is a man from the middle downward. We had never had such a person in our custody, and there is no facility for such a situation. He had to be placed in a separate cell so that he wouldn’t be abused. That facility is what he ignorantly called a private apartment.
“Whether VIP or not, the condition of a prisoner will determine the facility he/she is going to stay in. We can’t put a prisoner who has high blood pressure in a cell without enough ventilation.”
Bobrisky’s case has sparked debate on human rights and recognition of cross dressers, transgenders, and transsexual individuals in the country’s laws, institutions, and facilities.
Some activists argued that the government and its institutions should be aware of the presence of these individuals and make provisions for them.
The activists believe that sexual orientation is part of the human rights to be respected by the Nigerian government.
An activist, Femi Adeyeye, said the Kirikiri Custodial Centre where Bobrisky served his jail term was not befitting of his sexual orientation.
Adeyeye urged the Federal Government to respect the rights of individuals regardless of their sexual orientation. He also called on the government to provide special facilities for transgender inmates.
“A special cell for transgender persons is a welcome development; it’s something the government should look into,” he stated.
Another activist, Michael Adaramoye, noted that the Nigerian society had not come to terms with the reality of a growing transgender population.
However, Adaramoye said, “While we must recognise the right of individuals to sexual freedom, as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others, we must also be sensitive to the concerns of other members of society.
He advocated the provision of facilities to accommodate transgender individuals in prisons and cells.
“It is important to note that our correctional centres are organised in a way that dehumanises inmates. Under such vicious conditions, it is difficult for any positive character reform to occur. The prison system in Nigeria is in dire need of deep reform and overhaul,” the activist added.
Also, human rights lawyer, Toyin Taiwo-Ojo, said the Federal Government’s position on homosexuality was ambiguous.
“The Nigerian government must re-evaluate Bobrisky’s detention and consider the long-term implications of their decisions,” she concluded.
A public affairs analyst, Kizito Opara, said he was baffled by the manner in which Bobrisky’s plight had taken over other weightier matters in the country.
Opara, however, said that the truth in Bobrisky’s matter will soon be out.
He said, “I am surprised that Bobrisky’s matter has taken over weightier matters in this country. I thought Nigerians were hungry and that the economy was suffering. Bobrisky has indeed taken away our sorrows.
“But on a serious note, Bobrisky talks a lot. He also brags a lot. I am sure that he did not give those unnamed EFCC officials N15m.
Bobrisky should thank his stars that the EFCC said no bribe was paid or received.
“Why Bobrisky chose to escape to the Republic of Benin baffles me though. As far as I am concerned, things are working in his favour.
“Howbeit, in this whole Bobrisky saga, the truth of the matter will soon be out.”
Also answering questions, a social commentator, Nwadike Alex, said, “I think Bobrisky is going through all these problems because he is not like most of us. He is queer.
“And I don’t think he will stay down for too long. He will surely rise again. Yes, like him or hate him, many Nigerians love him.
“But he should watch his mouth. Anyone who wants a long life should watch his or her mouth. Life is too short for nonsense.”
