Controversial cross-dresser Idris 'Bobrisky' Okuneye has filed a lawsuit against the EFCC and the National Assembly, alleging that they violated his fundamental rights.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Bobrisky has been embroiled in controversy since social media influencer Martins 'VDM' Otse leaked an audio recording alleging that he paid the EFCC N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him.
In the recording, Bobrisky alleged that he served his six-month prison sentence in a private apartment. He also alleged that singer Falz and his father, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, approached him for a N10 million presidential pardon.
However, the transvestite denied the authenticity of the recording and threatened legal action against VDM. Despite his refusal, the House of Representatives launched an investigation into the alleged bribery of N15 million, with hearings held by the Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions Committees.
The committees called Bobrisky, VDM, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyode and officials of the Nigeria Correctional Center (NCoS) to testify. Bobrisky, however, did not appear citing health problems.
On October 21, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) arrested him at the Seme border as he attempted to leave the country. Later on November 1, this newspaper reported his further arrest by the EFCC at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after he was removed from a KLM flight bound for Amsterdam.
On November 5, the 33-year-old transvestite confirmed that he had left Nigeria to focus on his mental health and well-being.
Page of article with demand for promotion of financial support against EFCC and National Assembly
On Saturday, Bobrisky shared a court file dated October 10 on his Instagram. The document prohibited the EFCC and the National Assembly from “harassing, detaining or declaring him wanted.”
In the suit, which listed the National Assembly as the first defendant and the EFCC as the second, Bobrisky alleged that the assembly summoned him for investigation based on an unverified WhatsApp voice call leaked by VDM.
He added that he was summoned without investigating the audio and despite questioning the validity of the call through his lawyer.
He further alleged that the assembly's failure to verify the authenticity of the audio caused him significant emotional trauma.
Bobrisky's complaint reads in part: “The sole reason for the applicant's invitation by the first respondent was a WhatsApp phone call posted by one Martins Vincent Otse (also known as Verydarkman), the authenticity of which the applicant has disputed through from his lawyer's letter dated September 27, 2024.
“The first respondent did not first investigate the authenticity of the defamatory recording intentionally posted by the said Martins Vincent Otse (aka Verydarkman), but continued to invite the Applicant through social media reports, causing him psychological and physical trauma by a publication defamatory. used as a blackmail tool by the mischievous Martins Vincent Otse (aka Verydarkman) and violating the Applicant's right to privacy.”
The National Assembly of Nigeria, Abuja.
According to him, the invitation to the assembly not only caused him trauma but also violated his rights, subjected him to ridicule and exposed him to threats from strangers.
“The invitation of the first respondent caused a gross violation of the Applicant's rights; He was ridiculed on social media, threatened by strangers, scared to move, his dignity was hurt, his privacy was invaded and his right to a fair trial was violated.
“The first defendant denied the plaintiff's right to have an attorney and to question the witnesses called on the 30 days of September 2024, stating in total ignorance that the people invited to said panel do not have the right to be represented by an attorney of their choice , which is totally against the provision of Article 7 (c) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Ratification and Implementation) Act, Cap.A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, the right to defense, including the right to be defended by a lawyer! of choice; also Section 36 (6) (c) and (d) of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
Demand for N1.2 billion
In the suit, the transvestite sued the EFCC, seeking N200 million for “psychotic trauma”, and demanded N1 billion from the National Assembly for the “violation of his right to a fair hearing”.
In the caption accompanying the suit, Bobrisky accused the EFCC and other security agencies of violating human rights, emphasizing that it is time for the world and the international community to recognize their continued disregard for freedom and rights.
He also alleged that his arrest at the Seme border was ordered by the Minister of Home Affairs, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, which he said aggravated his health conditions.
“Despite the earlier presentation of this fundamental rights matter, the EFCC still violently assaulted and harassed me and removed me from a plane that was about to take off.
EFCC Operations
“Without any court order, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigerian Police to arrest and detain me, which caused my illness to worsen, then the EFCC arrested me again and removed me from his house. Lagos Office to Abuja, even though this suit is pending. It is a pity that the EFCC does not respect the court or any security agency that acts above the law, which they claim to protect and implement.”
leaked audio
Furthermore, Bobrisky, in a now-deleted Instagram post, denied the allegation made in an audio leaked by VDM, alleging that he borrowed N4 million to complete payments to the anti-graft agency and NCoS.
He clarified that the person in the telephone conversation, whom he identified as Bintin, did not lend him N4 million but gifted it to him due to the nature of their relationship.
The transvestite further alleged that Bintin's claim to lend him N4 million was due to her refusal to date him.
He said: “Everything I am going to write here tonight is nothing but the truth. I am nice, but people take advantage of me because they know that many people don't like me because of the way I choose to live my life. I met this man called Bintin in America in 2017. Google 'Bobrisky in America' and you'll find some clips online. He was the first person who welcomed me in New York, United States. Then he paid me $3,000 for a meet and greet. Since he picked up my number, we have been chatting on WhatsApp.
“I lost that phone, or I would have shown you our chat. Fast forward to 2022, Bintin started asking me out. He said his wife had left him after realizing she liked me. I said to myself, “I can't date this one because he can't pay my bills.” But I started billing him to see if he was strong enough to pay. Last year he came to Nigeria but I refused to see him because he sent me his location and asked me to meet him. “He got angry and stopped talking to me.”
The transvestite revealed that before Bintin gave him N4 million during his sentence at the Kirikiri Correctional Center in Lagos, he had promoted several of Bintin's events as an influencer without charging a cent.
He added that Bintin began telling people that he had lent him money after he refused to see him.
“I changed my number at some point because he was always bothering me about a relationship. This guy only wanted to give me money when he wanted me to come to him. He didn't give me a cent for all the posts I did for him. I made all the posts because I love influencing and making people's brands happy. In 2023, he returned to Nigeria and said he had a business deal for me. Who wouldn't rush to make money after hearing about a trade deal? I met him in Lekki Phase 1, and the moment he saw me, he grabbed me and kissed me.
“I got angry and asked, 'Why are you kissing me without my consent?' Angry, I left immediately. From there we stopped talking. Later, he found out about my arrest and came up to me and asked, 'Honey, do you need anything?' I said yes and asked for money. He sent 4 million naira to my brother's account, saying he was coming to Nigeria and wanted us to go on an all-expenses paid holiday. I still didn't see it when I came out because I knew what I wanted. He got angry and demanded that I return the money, claiming that he had lent it to me. I was surprised but I didn't want to argue with him. He kept calling asking for his money until he flew back to the United States,” Bobrisky said.