By Oghenekevwe Kofi
The atmosphere at the National Assembly was tense, as Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), stood before the House of Representatives committee investigating the allegations against Bobrisky (Idris Okuneye). The social media influencer stormed the lower national lawmaking house dressed in traditional Benin attire accompanied by an alter ego, wrapped in a ceremony garbs.
The once unstoppable force on social media now found himself in an unexpected battle for credibility, refusing to speak unless Bobrisky appeared in person to answer for himself. The committee, however, wasn’t playing games. They swiftly shut down Bobrisky’s lawyer, Avwerosuoghene Omuvwie, instructing him not to speak until his client, Idris Okuneye, made an appearance in person.
Days earlier, VDM had rocked the internet when he released an audio recording of Bobrisky allegedly admitting to bribing officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with ₦15 million to avoid serving his six-month prison sentence in Kiri-Kiri. According to VDM, Bobrisky spent his sentence in a private apartment instead. The audio, which quickly went viral, was just the tip of the iceberg.
VDM disclosed to the committee that he received the incriminating recording from an individual to whom Bobrisky allegedly owed ₦4 million. “The person lent Bobrisky the money on June 19, 2024, while he was in EFCC detention or a private apartment,” VDM testified.
He further alleged that the money was transferred to an account linked to Bobrisky’s brother, Abiodun Okuneye. As if that wasn’t enough, VDM provided evidence of chats and conversations showing Bobrisky’s refusal to repay the loan. One message, read aloud by VDM, had Bobrisky allegedly saying, “Go ahead and call me out, I will respond to you on IG. You know I’m shameless and I don’t care.”
As the scandal unravelled, Michael Anugwa, the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri, also added his voice to the controversy. He revealed the reason for Bobrisky’s special treatment:
“We didn’t put Bobrisky in the general cell because he has female features. Kirikiri Prison is filled with lots of hardened horny convicts, rapists, and even many convicted for sodomy.” Anugwa’s statement fueled further debate about the privileges granted to the cross-dresser during his supposed imprisonment.
The scandal deepened further when Michael Anugwa, was asked about his suspension. Anugwa dismissed the news, stating: “It was a social media report. I wasn’t served a letter.” This comment left many puzzled, especially considering that just days earlier, on Thursday, Ja’afaru Ahmed, the secretary to the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), had officially announced the suspension of Anugwa and Sikiru Adekunle, another deputy controller, pending further investigation.
This conflicting information only added to the intrigue surrounding the entire investigation, as public trust in the authorities involved appeared to erode further.
Despite all the chaos, VDM took a moment to express regret for his recent derogatory remarks about human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, offering a public apology during the proceedings. This unexpected apology contrasted the fiery exchanges that dominated the hearing.
With the committee demanding Bobrisky’s presence and more recordings potentially in play, the drama is far from over. Will Bobrisky finally make an appearance to confront these explosive allegations, or will the saga continue to unfold in his absence? One thing is certain: this story has gripped the nation, and its conclusion is eagerly awaited.
