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Bobrisky: Reps grill EFCC, NCoS officials over bribery allegations

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Bobrisky: Reps grill EFCC, NCoS officials over bribery allegations

Bobrisky: Reps grill EFCC, NCoS officials over bribery allegations

 

 

The House of Representatives, on Monday, grilled officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigerian Correctional Service  over allegations that the two agencies were bribed by controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, alias Bobrisky, following his conviction and sentencing for abuse of the naira in April.

During the hearing, both the EFCC and the NCoS officials denied the bribery allegations. The EFCC refuted claims that Bobrisky paid N15 million to have the money laundering charges against him dropped, while the NCoS insisted that Bobrisky served his term at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre and not in a private apartment as alleged.

Bobrisky was convicted on April 5, 2024, by the Federal High Court in Lagos and sentenced to six months in prison for abuse of the naira. On August 5, 2024, the self-acclaimed “Mummy of Lagos” regained his freedom amid allegations of receiving preferential treatment while in custody due to his fame as a media personality.

Last week, a social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, released an audio recording purportedly made by Bobrisky, in which he claimed that after his conviction and sentencing, an unnamed godfather, in collaboration with the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, arranged for him to serve his six-month sentence in a private apartment.

 

In the audio shared by VDM, Bobrisky was alleged to have claimed that he paid as much as N15m to EFCC officials to drop the money laundering charges against him.

Following these allegations, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered a probe and the immediate suspension of the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos State, Michael Anugwa, and the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos State, Sikiru Adekunle.

Additionally, last week, the House of Representatives resolved to invite Bobrisky, VDM, the EFCC, and the NCoS for questioning over the matter.

 

Appearing before the Reps Joint Committee on Monday, Anugwa stated that when Bobrisky was brought to the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, he refused to eat the prison rations, preferring to make personal arrangements for his feeding. He added that this practice is guaranteed under the nation’s laws.

On why Bobrisky was kept in a different cell away from other inmates, Anugwa explained, “During the admission of the inmate (Bobrisky), we discovered that he had two features. We did not know where to place him because, for instance, he had breasts. We had to take him to Room 2 in the B Ward. This is also in line with global best practices as approved by the United Nations.”

Regarding Bobrisky’s transfer to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Anugwa said, “Friends of Bobrisky bought plastic chairs and brought them to the centre. There was so much media hype that he had to be moved to Kirikiri for security.”

When asked if the donation of chairs could have influenced Bobrisky’s movement from Ikoyi to Kirikiri, Anugwa declined to comment, but added that it is a tradition for inmates to make donations to authorities while in custody.

He denied the allegation that Bobrisky was held outside the walls of a correctional facility, stating, “Bobrisky was admitted on April 13, with a valid warrant and a transfer order from Ikoyi Correctional Facility. The warrant was given to me the same day of his conviction. The biometric was taken the next day because he came around 10:30 PM. Okuneye spent 10 days at a medium correctional centre and was moved to maximum because he refused to eat the prison food and then applied for self-feeding, which was approved. Bobrisky nominated two people to bring his food to the facility, Abiola Okuneye and Moji Okuneye. During the admission, we discovered that Idris, though a man, had special features like breasts that would not allow us to put him in the general cell. We agreed to put him in a separate cell. While he was there, he had a total of 39 visitors.”

Echoing Anugwa’s position, the Assistant Controller General of NCoS in charge of the Kirikiri Maximum Security Centre, Ben-Rabbi Freeman, said he transported Bobrisky to Kirikiri in his official car.

“The transfer from Ikoyi to Kirikiri was purely for security purposes. The inmate (Bobrisky) was taken to the maximum facility in my official car,” Freeman said.

 

When asked if he was on suspension, the Deputy Controller elicited prolonged laughter at the investigative hearing when he said he learned about his fate via a press release. “The suspension was in the form of a press release,” he said.

When pressed further to clarify his position, Anugwa added, “It was a social media suspension, sir,” a remark that sent the audience into another bout of laughter.

 

 

However, the NCoS, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, labeled Anugwa’s actions as an attempt to mislead the public.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Correctional Service suspended not only the said officer in the video but three other officers following their alleged roles in various misconducts to allow for further investigation. The suspended officers include the officer in charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections Sikiru Adekunle; the officer in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections Michael Anugwa; the officer in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, FCT command, DCC Kevin Ikechukwu Iloafonsi; and Assistant Superintendent of Corrections Ogbule Samuel Obinna of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State,” Abubakar said.

VeryDarkMan apeaks on allegation

Meanwhile, VeryDarkMan, who initially declined to speak unless Bobrisky was produced, later agreed to comment after committee members and his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, urged him to have a change of mind.

Speaking on his allegations, VeryDarkMan told the investigating committee that he obtained his audio recording from someone who lent Bobrisky N4m.

 

 

“Bobrisky claimed he had a godfather. I don’t know if that godfather is here, so I will present my evidence one at a time as I have more audio recordings,” he said.

Also speaking, Bobrisky’s lawyer, Avwerosuoghene Omuvwie, informed the House panel that his client could not honor the invitation due to ill health.

However, this did not sit well with the committee, which demanded medical proof to support the claim. A committee member, Patrick Umoh (PDP, Akwa Ibom), warned that the panel would not entertain frivolous excuses in the future, stating, “We hope that the next time we invite him, he will be well.”

EFCC defends allegation

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, Michael Nzekwe, who represented his principal at the investigative hearing, explained why the commission dropped money laundering charges against Bobrisky. According to him, the charges were dropped because Bobrisky had pleaded guilty in his confessional statement.

He urged the House to “use its constitutional power to ensure that corruption and other vices are exposed, investigated, and prosecuted, and also to ensure that patriotic and dedicated officers are not blackmailed, demonized, and demoralized for faithfully serving and carrying out their lawful duties.”

“The commission has been consistent in its advocacy, calling on the public with credible information on alleged acts of corruption involving any of its officers to come forward with evidence. The public is urged to do so responsibly.

 

“Short of the ex-convict and other accusers openly naming the officers of the commission to whom they allegedly gave the bribe of N15m in order to influence the dropping of counts 5 and 6 of the charge bordering on money laundering, it is reasonable to infer that the ex-convict merely made up the story to convince the yet-to-be-identified person he was speaking with to obtain financial favors under false pretenses by dropping the name of the commission.

“We wish to draw the attention of the Honorable House to the fact that the onus of proving this grievous allegation against officials of the commission rests squarely on the accusers in this case: the ex-convict and VeryDarkMan. It is noteworthy that the commission extended an invitation to both the ex-convict and VeryDarkMan to assist in unraveling the identities of the officers of the commission to whom the alleged bribe of N15n was paid,” the EFCC stated.

The Chairman of the Committee, Ginger Onwusibe, however, indicated that at the next meeting, the person who recorded the audio should appear before the committee, while the meeting was adjourned sine die.

 

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Why Do I Consistently Mention ErukuCity Plus Parental Guidance?

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Why Do I Consistently Mention ErukuCity Plus Parental Guidance?
~By Oluwaseun Fabiyi

 

 

Your heritage or background plays an undeniable role in shaping your life, regardless of whether you recognize its impact. Generally, people in Lagos, abroad, or worldwide have a historical ancestry or family lineage. You can quote me anywhere.

When individuals of high stature forget their humble beginnings, they potentially forfeit the opportunity to impart valuable life lessons to their children and inadvertently become educated yet culturally uninformed

ErukuCity, located within Ekiti Local Government of Kwara State, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, agricultural excellence, impressive sports records, robust security measures, quality educational institutions, and considerable influence on Kwara State politics, which I aim to highlight in an upcoming project celebrating my hometown’s exceptional qualities.

My origins trace back to ErukuCity, where I was raised in a Muslim family with deep ties to hunting and farming. The influential legacy of Balogun Dodondawa is prominent in our family history and throughout ErukuCity. Efforts are soon to be made to compile and highlight the late Balogun’s contributions to the community.

Under Parental Guidance And Wisdom, I Began My Journey:

In our adolescent years, while residing in our hometown, our parents frequently advised us to develop a practical proficiency or business venture, confident that it would enhance, not hinder, our educational aspirations

Whenever our parents mentioned this, I felt growing frustration with their ideology, believing their lack of education contributed to their premature advocacy for vocational skills as a supplemental income stream

It never occurred to me that our parents had a profound understanding of the potential challenges the country would face in the future. During my JSS 3 year at Methodist High School in ErukuCity, I distinctly recall a particular evening when my parents summoned me, saying, ‘Oluwaseun, we recognize your exceptional abilities, calm demeanor, and promising future. As individuals who were deprived of educational opportunities, with only a few graduates in our family and lacking vocational skills, we urge you to acquire a trade or skill while pursuing your education, as it will be invaluable to you and future generations.’ Despite my parents’ efforts to dissuade me, I remained resolute, stressing that I would not compromise my academic goals initially, and subsequently, I might establish a reliable alternative source of financial support or a secondary contingency plan.

Ultimately, with our parents’ passing, we, the next generation, remain; significantly, some of us have come to appreciate and integrate the counsel offered in the 80s, following our academic accomplishments.

Considering the current economic landscape in Nigeria and Africa, it is clear that sole reliance on one income stream precludes wealth accumulation, thus necessitating the cultivation of an alternative income source, or ‘plan B.’ My upbringing and heritage have been instrumental in my professional journey, and I remain grateful for the foundational values they have imparted.

I am deeply grateful to my late parents and the entire Eruku community for their invaluable support, which has profoundly influenced my personal and professional progress.

The forthcoming Part 2 will examine the outstanding heritage and notable accomplishments of the late Balogun Dodondawa in fostering the expansion and transformation of Eruku City.

Hello, I’m Oluwaseun Fabiyi, a journalist writes from Lagos.

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Lawyers, CSOs kick as 2,412 protesters rot in detention

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Lawyers, CSOs kick as 2,412 protesters rot in detention

 

Lawyers and civil society organisations, CSOs, yesterday, decried the continued detention and incarceration of #EndBadGovernance protesters two months after the August 1-10 protests across the country.

 

As of last night, most of the detained protesters are yet to be prosecuted, with minors among those held in captivity in Police, Department of State Service, DSS, facilities or prisons.

 

Although some minors, who were arrested during the protest, have been released on bail, others are in the process of being granted bail, Vanguard’s checks showed.

40 charged to court in Nasarawa

In Nasarawa State for instance, of the 50 protesters arrested, 10 minors have been freed, while 40 adults have been charged to court, according to Police PRO, DSP Ranhan Nansel.

109 arrested in Sokoto

In Sokoto where 109 protesters were arrested, Attorney-General of the state, Nasiru Binji, said a significant number had been released on bail, while the rest were in prison custody.

6 freed in Kaduna

Similarly, in Kaduna State, six of those arrested have been freed on the order of the Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi, while three others have been charged to court.

Details on 600 in Kano uncertain

 

The situation in Kano State is alarming, as no fewer than 600 protesters (including 76, who displayed Russian flags) were arrested and later transferred to Police Force headquarters in Abuja. While it was gathered that many of them have been charged to court and bailed, the number of those still in detention could not be ascertained at press time.

 

The Director of Public Prosecution, DPP in Kano State Ministry of Justice, Salisu Tahir, said they were still compiling the details.

390 await freedom in Jigawa

However, in Jigawa State, of the 419 protesters arrested, 390 have been arraigned in court, as 29 have been released, according to Police PRO DSP, Lawan Adam.

Unclear situation over 9 in Zamfara, 97 in Borno

In Zamfara, the Police PRO, Yazid Abubakar, said nine protesters had been charged to court, but said he does not know if they were detained or granted bail by the court.

In Borno, 97 protesters were arrested during the protest but their condition remains unclear at the time of this report.

In Yobe, of the 51 arrests made during the protest, 35 have been sent to Potiskum Prison, while the rest are being detained by the police. The minors among them, are to be freed on bail.

No freedom for 23 detainees in Niger

In Niger State, 23 persons were arrested, out of which six have been arraigned and sentenced to jail terms, while 17 are in police custody.

1,090 yet to be prosecuted in Abuja

In the Federal capital territory, FCT, Abuja, no fewer than 1,100 were arrested, but only 10 have been arraigned.

 

Additionally, the hundreds of Northern youths who brandished Russian flags during the protests have not been arraigned, neither has the tailor who mass-produced and distributed the flags.

Those on trial for participating in the protest are Michael Tobiloba Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo Simon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nurudeen Khamis and Abduldalam Zubair.

Trial Justice Emeka Nwite remanded the defendants in prison custody, pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

51 freed in Plateau

The 51 protesters who were arrested in Plateau State for breaching the law on curfew but not on hunger strike, have all been freed.

There were, however, no arrests in Benue, Taraba, Kebbi, Adamawa, Kwara and Kogi states, as many of the states adopted some strategies to prevent their citizens from joining the protests.

 

@VANGUARD

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Doctor Warns On The Danger Of Excessive Masturbation

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Doctor Warns On The Danger Of Excessive Masturbation

 

 

A British doctor has warned that excessive masturbation is behind the rise of male health problems.

In moderation, self-pleasure helps to reduce stress, and improve sleep quality and mood, but it can become ‘an unhealthy habit’ and trigger a form of erectile dysfunction, says Dr Donald Grant, GP and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy.

Doctor Warns On The Danger Of Excessive Masturbation

‘Overall, there’s no strict rule or guideline on how much people should masturbate.’

‘But when masturbation gets out of hand, there’s a variety of ways it can impact sexual and physical health.’

A key concern is the rise of porn use: half of adults in the UK now access graphic material online, according to a recent survey by media watchdog Ofcom, and Dr Grant links this to the rise in porn-induced erectile dysfunction, or PIED.

 

Up to 50 percent of adult men suffer from some degree of erectile dysfunction, according to the British Association of Urological Surgeons. It is often associated with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes but can also have no obvious cause. One lesser-known culprit could be PIED, claims Dr Grant.

‘PIED is a type of erectile dysfunction that stems from an unhealthy consumption of pornography.

‘This unhealthy porn usage can lead to desensitisation, making it more difficult for men to achieve and maintain an erection — as they’re used to more intense sexual activity seen on screen.

‘It can lead to reduced interest in sex with actual partners as men prioritise porn and masturbation instead.’

More worryingly, Dr Grant warns that compulsive masturbation could trigger physical changes that affect intimacy.

‘Compulsive masturbation can lead to reduced sensitivity in the genital area, making it more difficult to achieve sexual pleasure or stimulation.

‘It can occur when nerve endings become damaged from too much activity, creating a loss of sensitivity.

‘This can also impact individuals who masturbate too roughly, causing potential friction damage.

 

‘Thankfully, this is a short-term issue and factors such as taking breaks or utilising lubricants can help restore sensitivity.

‘And thankfully, there are a range of treatments available to men who are struggling with ED, helping them manage a healthy sex life and achieve erections with ease.’

Dr Grant added that ‘over-masturbating’ can be damaging in other ways.

It can cause men and women to become ‘hyper-focused on their own pleasure, meaning when the time comes for sexual intercourse with a partner, individuals could experience performance anxiety, which directly impacts sex drive.’

The question of how much is too much is subjective, he admitted.
‘Masturbation habits can differ largely from person to person with some people doing it daily, weekly or not at all.

‘It’s important to monitor the sexual activity to ensure it doesn’t interfere with social lives, work or relationships.

‘Additionally, discomfort or injury is usually a telltale sign that the masturbation sessions are becoming too much and harming health.

‘It’s important to maintain a healthy but sensible sex life through masturbation, ensuring it’s not at the expense of daily activities.

‘Some people can even experience mental distress due to guilt or shame relating to their masturbation — this can stem from porn usage or other factors, but can have a big effect on people’s mental well-being.

‘Overall, common sense is required to ensure it remains a recreational activity without interfering with other aspects of daily life.’

 

 

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