The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has given its account on the on ongoing investigation into allegations surrounding the accommodation of convicted cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, The Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Abubakar Umar, highlighted the service’s commitment to rehabilitation and safety through its comprehensive inmate admission process.
Recall that in April this year, Bobrisky was convicted for abusing the naira and sentenced to six months in jail.
But shortly after he published an audio recording which captured Bobrisky allegedly saying that he spent his jail term in a private apartment was published by Vincent Otse, a social media influencer known as Very Dark Man (VDM).
In the audio, Bobrisky also said officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) received N15 million from him to drop charges of money laundering against him.
Caught in the conundrum, the federal government constituted and saddled an independent investigative panel with the responsibility of proving allegations of corruption and gross violations of standard operating procedures within the NCoS.
The committee inaugurated by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, was also charged to look at the recent allegations that some correctional service personnel had provided alternative accommodation for Bobrisky.
Explaining how inmates undergo comprehensive assessments to determine security risks, needs, and responsivity issues when brought to custodial centres, Mr Umar said, “Well, upon conviction of every offender from court, either awaiting trial or convicted, once they are brought to our facility, there is a process they go through before and during admission.
“Let me say during admission, there is what we call admission board, which comprises the officer in charge, the second in command, the medical officer in charge of the custodial centre, the record officer and other relevant officers.
“They will go through the information contained therein in the warrants. Also, before he will be allocated cell, there is what we call determination of security.
“Determination of security refers to one’s risk assessment. The person risks self-harm, safety of other inmates and officers. We also have what we call needs assessment, which is focused on criminogenic need areas.
“These are behaviours that may cause criminal behavioural and other criminological needs. These are the things that we look into before an inmate is allocated cell.
“Furthermore, we also look at what we refer to as responsivity issues. There are things that can affect his participation in intervention or make it difficult for him to adjust to custodial life.
“So, having worked all this in, then it will be determined which cell such inmates will be allocated to,” he maintained.
According to Mr Umar, during Bobrisky’s court appearance and subsequent admission to our facility, he was asked to declare his gender and he identified himself as male, but “do not forget that there are some other features that are on him.”
“So because of those determination, I mean, what I refer to as classification and also determination of security of the custodial centre, he was given an appropriate cell where he was kept.
“This is to also ensure that he is not under threat within our custodial centres and he is kept safe also.
“Well, one thing I want to say here is that the Minister of Interior has set up a committee to investigate the said alleged Bobrisky staying outside our custodial centre.
“So until the determination of such or the outcome of such investigations, I think we should let it rest.
“I am only telling you that once an inmate or people are convicted or are brought to our custodial centres, we have a standard of treatment for them during admission.
“They will be put through checks and these checks guide us on determination of security of such person both to the person and to the custodial center.
“But as to whether he was kept in our custodial facilities or he was kept outside the facility, until the determination of the outcome of the investigation on the allegations, I won’t be able to speak further on that.”
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