A federal government panel investigating the circumstances of crossdresser Idris Okuneye’s, widely known as Bobrisky’s, incarceration confirmed this week that he enjoyed unlawful privileges during his prison term and controversially recommended that activist VeryDarkMan, real name Martins Vincent Otse, face prosecution for exposing the scandal.
The panel’s findings validated much of what VeryDarkMan had originally alleged, confirming that Bobrisky, who was sentenced to six months for naira mutilation, did not serve his term under standard correctional conditions but instead received irregular accommodation arrangements that departed significantly from treatment applicable to ordinary inmates. The Correctional Service has suspended officials implicated in facilitating the special treatment.
However, the recommendation that VeryDarkMan himself should be prosecuted drew immediate and fierce public backlash, with civil society groups, legal commentators, and ordinary Nigerians describing the move as an attempt to punish the whistleblower rather than address the institutional failures his disclosures exposed. The Nigerian Bar Association said it would monitor any prosecution attempt closely.
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Public Backlash Over Whistleblower Targeting
VeryDarkMan rejected the recommendation, saying he acted in the public interest and that the panel’s own findings had vindicated his original claims. His supporters launched an online campaign opposing any prosecution, arguing that correctional officials who facilitated the unlawful privileges should be the focus of accountability rather than the activist who exposed them.
Furthermore, a video has emerged suggesting that VeryDarkMan and others could be included in counterterrorism operations, a development that has generated significant confusion and concern given the unrelated nature of the prison scandal and counterterrorism work. Legit.ng reported on the development without providing full clarity on its context, leaving open questions about how the two matters might be connected, if at all.
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Still, the Correctional Service said its broader institutional review of preferential treatment for high-profile inmates was continuing, separate from any action involving VeryDarkMan. Civil liberties advocates said any prosecution of a whistleblower for exposing genuine wrongdoing would set a damaging precedent for future accountability journalism and activism in Nigeria. Notably, the scandal emerged just weeks after the Suleja prison escape exposed deteriorating correctional infrastructure, adding to a difficult period for Nigeria’s correctional system’s public image. Consequently, how the federal government ultimately handles the VeryDarkMan prosecution recommendation will be closely watched as a test of its tolerance for public accountability activism.
Lagos Police Boost School Security Amid Threat Concerns
In a separate development, Lagos Police said no credible threat had been detected against pupils in the state, following heightened public anxiety triggered by the Oyo State school abductions. The command confirmed it had increased patrols and visibility around schools across the Lagos metropolis as a precautionary measure. As a result, Lagos joins several other states that have moved to reassure parents and pre-empt copycat attacks following the Oriire LGA crisis.
