Bobrisky Saga Reveals Deep-Seated Institutional Flaws, Says Minister

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, has described the ongoing controversy surrounding popular cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, as a symptom of deeper institutional issues within the country.

Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, Tunji-Ojo expressed concern about the structural problems revealed by the saga, emphasising the need for systemic reform to prevent future occurrences.

Bobrisky has been at the centre of public attention following his prison sentence for violating currency regulations.

In a widely circulated audio, he alleged that he paid officials from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for preferential treatment during his incarceration. This claim has sparked widespread debate, with many questioning the integrity of correctional services and highlighting possible lapses in the prison system.

“When you have an institutional problem, you don’t just provide a knee-jerk approach to solving it,” Tunji-Ojo stated, underscoring the need for comprehensive reform rather than temporary fixes.

He noted that a committee has been established to investigate these issues in the case of Bobrisky and other systemic failings, such as instances of prison abscondment.

“We set up that committee to look into all the issues, beyond Bobrisky, beyond people absconding – it is a whole institutional issue,” he explained.

The minister also stressed the importance of addressing current challenges to prevent them from recurring problems, stating, “We cannot transfer today’s problem to the future.” Tunji-Ojo’s comments have heightened public calls for reform in Nigeria’s correctional institutions.