The House of Representatives has summoned the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, alongside the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), and social media personalities Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, and influencer Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.
This follows accusations made in a viral audio recording where Okuneye allegedly admitted to bribing EFCC officials with N15 million to dismiss money laundering charges against him.
The Joint Committees of the House have resolved to investigate the claims, which have sparked public outrage and raised concerns about the integrity of the EFCC.
In the viral recording, Bobrisky allegedly disclosed that he was sentenced to six months in prison for currency abuse earlier this year but served his term in a VIP facility due to bribes.
This revelation has intensified allegations of corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service.
In a letter dated September 27, 2024, the committee summoned Olukoyede, the NCS Comptroller-General, and all relevant officers implicated in the scandal to appear before them on Monday, September 30.
The committee intends to question the officials regarding the bribery accusations and Bobrisky’s claims of preferential treatment during his sentence.
EFCC Responds to Allegations
In response to the controversy, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale confirmed that Chairman Ola Olukoyede had ordered an internal investigation into the accusations.
The EFCC has also summoned both Bobrisky and VeryDarkMan to its Lagos Directorate to provide statements and aid in the inquiry.
VeryDarkMan and Falana Face Off
In a related development, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has demanded that influencer VeryDarkMan retract a defamatory statement linking him to the scandal.
VeryDarkMan had claimed that Falana and his son, Folarin Falana (popularly known as Falz), demanded N10 million from Bobrisky in exchange for removing his name from EFCC records.
In a letter issued by Falana’s legal counsel, Taiwo Olawanle, the lawyer described VeryDarkMan’s accusations as a “vicious and reckless” attempt to defame Falana.
The letter demanded that the influencer retract his statements within 24 hours and issue a public apology.
Olawanle reiterated that Falana “has never spoken to Bobrisky regarding any alleged pardon or any other matter,” asserting that freedom of speech must not be misused to harm another’s reputation.
Further Allegations and Debt Claims
Adding to the drama, VeryDarkMan has also accused Bobrisky of failing to repay a N4 million debt. To substantiate his claims, the influencer released a video that allegedly documents Bobrisky’s interactions with EFCC officers and details how he reportedly navigated his prison sentence in April.
In the video, VeryDarkMan claims that Bobrisky paid N15 million to EFCC officials to drop the money laundering charges against him.
He also reiterated the allegation that Bobrisky paid N10 million to Falana and his son to intercede on his behalf.
Following these claims, the EFCC has intensified its internal investigation, seeking to determine if any of its officers accepted bribes from Bobrisky, as alleged in the viral audio.
