Bobrisky: NBA demands probe of N15m bribery allegation against EFCC
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has raised concerns over claims that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accepted a N15 million bribe to drop money laundering charges against convicted cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky.
In a statement from its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the NBA commended the EFCC for swiftly deciding to investigate the matter and called for an independent inquiry by the Attorney-General and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). The NBA described the allegations as troubling and stressed the importance of a thorough investigation to uncover the truth and ensure transparency in the criminal justice process.
The legal body also urged the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to clarify whether Bobrisky served his sentence in a correctional facility and to provide details on the conditions of his imprisonment.
“The NBA acknowledges that all individuals and institutions accused are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty,” the statement read.
“However, we insist that a swift and thorough investigation be carried out to establish the truth. If any public official is found culpable, appropriate legal actions must be taken to hold them accountable. If it is proven that he was allowed to serve his sentence outside a Correctional Facility, in breach of the law and a court order, the officers and officials responsible must be prosecuted and dismissed from service. Any person found complicit must face the full weight of the law,” the NBA added.
