The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified the circumstances leading to the arrest of controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as “Bobrisky.”
It was earlier reported that Bobrisky was detained on Thursday night at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
He was reportedly detained while attempting to leave Nigeria for London amid allegations of bribery. Following his detention, he was transferred from Lagos to Abuja for further questioning.
In a phone conversation (with SaharaReporters) on Friday morning, EFCC spokesperson Mr. Dele Oyewale explained that Bobrisky’s arrest was due to his failure to respond to an invitation sent by the Commission.
The EFCC representative stated that the crossdresser’s arrest was connected to the bribery allegations against him.
“We arrested him last night and we took him to Abuja because our team investigators are in Abuja,” the EFCC spokesman said.
He continued: “He was trying to run away from mentioning those he said collected bribe from him. We have sent him invitation but he refused to honour our invitation and he was trying to leave the country.
“This was why we arrested him. We want him to come and mention the names of the official involved in the bribery but he has not shown up.”
When asked (by SaharaReporters) whether Bobrisky would face bribery charges from the EFCC, Mr. Oyewale stated he currently had no further information regarding potential charges.
In October, it was reported that Bobrisky had been detained while attempting to flee to the Benin Republic.
Reports indicated that Bobrisky was arrested by the Customs Service at the Seme-Nigerian border during a passport check, just hours before he was scheduled to appear before a Senate panel of inquiry regarding the allegations against him.
