The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified the circumstances surrounding the arrest of controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky.
Earlier reports from SaharaReporters indicated that Bobrisky was apprehended on Thursday night at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while attempting to flee to London amid ongoing bribery allegations.
Following his arrest, he was transferred from Lagos to Abuja for thorough interrogation.
In a phone interview with SaharaReporters on Friday morning, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale explained that Bobrisky was detained for failing to respond to an invitation from the commission.
“We arrested him last night and transported him to Abuja because our investigative team is based there,” Mr. Oyewale stated. “He was trying to evade disclosing the names of those he claimed accepted bribes from him. We had previously sent him invitations, but he refused to comply, and he was attempting to leave the country.”
He added, “This is why we took action. We need him to provide the names of the officials involved in the bribery, but he has not appeared.”
When asked if Bobrisky would face bribery charges from the EFCC, Mr. Oyewale stated he had no information regarding that matter at this time.
INewsNGR recalls that in October Bobrisky had been arrested while trying to escape to Benin Republic, intercepted by Customs officials at the Seme border during a passport check. This arrest occurred just hours before he was due to attend a Senate panel inquiry concerning allegations against him.