Bobrisky treated as normal inmate, says NCS officials

Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, a controversial crossdresser who was handed a six-month prison sentence over naira mutilation, is in the same cell with male inmates at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre; this medium has learned.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos, while sentencing Bobrisky on Friday, April 12, 2024, said the judgment would be a deterrent to others who are found mishandling the naira notes.

The controversial crossdresser who was taken to the Custodial Centre after the judgment was reported to have been treated equally to other inmates.

A top official in the facility who spoke to PUNCH but preferred not to be mentioned, as he was not authorised to talk about the matter, said Bobrisky was examined at the point of admission.

The official said the outcome of the examination showed that the controversial crossdresser had no realignment of gender or genital organs.

“Bobrisky made a public declaration that he was a male, and court proceedings are public records. Every inmate brought into a facility during admission is examined. He was equally examined, and no realignment of gender or genital organ was discovered. The male biological features were the same.

“After that, a cell was allocated to him, and he had a certain number of inmates with him. A bed space was also allotted to him. It is just like a boarding house where your housemaster will issue you your personal belongings,” the source said.

The source added that Bobrisky had been observing the rules and procedures obtained in the facility.

“When it is time for class, he attends. When it is time for food, he will go and get his portion. The same goes with prep and light out. He observes all these without preference. He has been going about his business just like other inmates since he was brought in here.”

While clarifying the claims that the crossdresser was being protected against abuse, the official noted that the facility does not allow inmates to abuse one another.

“He is not getting any five-star treatment and is not being protected from anybody. He follows the same rules and regulations, just like every other inmate. Single cells of isolation cells are to prevent outbreaks of communicable diseases. In a male prison, homosexuality is outlawed, and it is a grievous offense. Sodomy, or homosexuality, is frowned upon here in the custodial center. So any inmate that tries to violate him will face the law.”