The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has linked the recent scandal involving crossdresser Bobrisky (Idris Okuneye) to broader institutional issues within Nigeria’s correctional system.
The controversy erupted after Bobrisky was sentenced for abusing the country’s currency, and a viral video surfaced in which he claimed to have bribed officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service to receive preferential treatment while in custody.
In an interview on Channels TV, Tunji-Ojo explained that the incident reflected deeper systemic challenges within the country’s institutions, and addressing such issues requires a thoughtful and long-term approach, rather than quick fixes.
He said, “When you have an institutional problem, you don’t just provide a knee-jerk approach to solving it.
“We set up that committee to look into all the issues, beyond Bobrisky, beyond people absconding – it is a whole institutional issue.”
The minister emphasised the urgent need to reform the country’s institutions, saying, “We cannot transfer today’s problem to the future.”
He revealed that a committee had been set up to investigate the matter, with a focus not only on Bobrisky’s case but also on other concerns, such as the escape of prisoners and other institutional lapses. The Minister stressed that comprehensive reform was urgently needed, and that the country could not afford to postpone solving these problems.
Tunji-Ojo also touched on ongoing security challenges, particularly in Northern Nigeria, assuring the public that the government was actively addressing the emerging threats. He highlighted that the government was coordinating efforts across various agencies to ensure that security issues were managed from all angles and that the authorities were prepared to tackle the situation effectively.
“The way innocent Nigerians are watching me talk, don’t be surprised that terrorists are also watching me to know if I will be flippant, so they would be a mile ahead of us,” the minister explained.
He added, “All I can tell you is that the government is on top of these emerging security issues from all angles and using all agencies within its purview.”
