Prison experts have explained why controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, was separated from other inmates at the correctional facility.
During an appearance on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Friday, Bishop Kayode Williams, Director General of the Prison Rehabilitation Mission, elaborated on the accommodations made for inmates based on various categories.
He noted, “There are accommodations for condemned prisoners, those sentenced to death, who must not mingle with other inmates. The second category is for convicted criminals, who are essentially the owners of the prison.”
Regarding Bobrisky’s situation, Williams said, “Are they going to place Idris, with his transgender appearance, in the general cell with other prisoners? That’s where it becomes complicated; the first step is to determine how to treat someone who presents as a woman but is neither fully a woman nor a man.”
Throughout his explanation, Williams struggled with pronouns, occasionally using she/her and at other times he/him. He continued, “He was given special protective custody because, given his appearance, he could be in danger. He looks and moves like a woman, and there are homosexual inmates who might take things to extreme lengths.”
Former National PRO of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Francis Enobore, supported Williams’ statements, explaining that the service profiles each inmate for their safety as well as the overall prison environment. “Yes, he admitted in court that he is a man, but he presents as a woman. Some inmates are unrepentant homosexuals, and if not handled carefully, it could lead to serious security issues,” he stated.
However, Enobore dismissed claims that Bobrisky had been given a private section, asserting, “There’s no such thing as a private apartment or anything special in prison.”
This discussion arises amid controversies surrounding Bobrisky’s incarceration, particularly following a voice note in which he allegedly claimed he was not in prison after being convicted for abuse of naira notes in April. In the voice note, the person believed to be Bobrisky stated that his godfather and the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service arranged for him to serve his six-month sentence in a private apartment.
As a result, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board announced on Thursday, September 26, the suspension of two deputy controllers at the Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre in Lagos due to allegations of bribery related to Bobrisky.
Watch the prison expert’s insights in the video below.