By Juliet Aliwo.
A sensational claim by a prominent Lagos traditional ruler has ignited a fresh controversy surrounding the imprisonment of popular crossdresser Bobrisky.
The Baale of Kirikiri Town, Chief Babalola Shabi, has alleged a massive bribery scheme orchestrated by the socialite, involving smuggled ATMs and a staggering N35 million paid to secure VIP treatment within the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Speaking at a Lagos State Police Command town hall meeting, Chief Shabi, known as “Baale No-Nonsense,” asserted that Bobrisky never truly served his sentence behind bars. Instead, he claimed the crossdresser was housed in a private apartment outside the Kirikiri custodial facility, facilitated by corrupt prison officials.
According to the Baale, Bobrisky allegedly smuggled eight ATM cards into the prison and used them to funnel N35 million through local Point of Sale (POS) operators. This money, Shabi claims, was used to bribe officials for preferential treatment.
“Before the truth came out, everyone believed he was in Kirikiri serving his time. But the reality is that Bobrisky was living comfortably outside the prison walls, thanks to a criminal collaboration involving some officials,” Chief Shabi declared.
He stated that he personally uncovered the alleged scandal by summoning all POS operators in the community to his palace, leading to the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “I personally called in the EFCC after I summoned the POS operators to my palace. From there, they were able to trace the transactions and decode the money trail,” he explained.
The Baale detailed how correctional officers allegedly approached POS vendors to withdraw funds from Bobrisky’s ATM cards, highlighting the swiftness with which the N35 million was sourced as evidence of a well-organized network. “It was shocking how N35 million could be sourced from around here so quickly. Clearly, this was not a one-man job. The officials who aided him have been suspended,” Shabi added.
He further revealed that the alleged off-site property where Bobrisky was kept has been demolished and that both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the EFCC have interrogated him regarding the incident.
Chief Shabi’s explosive allegations directly contradict an earlier report by a National Assembly panel, which stated that while Bobrisky received preferential treatment, he remained within the prison premises throughout his six-month sentence for naira abuse in 2024.
These revelations also echo previous claims made by controversial social critic VeryDarkMan, who shared an alleged voice note of Bobrisky boasting about paying N15 million to EFCC officials to drop money laundering charges and claiming a “godfather” and prison staff ensured his comfortable confinement outside the main prison.
The Baale’s account has now thrown the integrity of Bobrisky’s prison sentence and the conduct of some correctional service officials into serious question, promising further scrutiny and potential investigations.
