Corruption Investigation Commences in Nigerian House of Representatives

The House of Representatives has commenced investigation into an allegation of Corruption Against The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service.

A joint committee set up by the House, chaired by Mr. Ginja Onwusibe, said that the committee will get to the root cause of the allegations.

After a long duration of debates between the members of the House of Representatives committee investigating the ” Disturbing Allegation of Corruption Against The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service and Mr. Martins Otse, aka Very Darkman.

Mr. Otse had initially refused to speak at the committee, because the other accused person invited, Mr. Idris Okuneye was not present at the sitting.

After threats to detain him for refusing to testify, Mr. Otse conffered with his lawyer Mr. Deji Adeyanju, he started talking and dropped his evidence.

He claimed that his intentions were to expose the rot in the society.

Lawmakers took turns to question Mr. Otse to explain his evidence.

The chairman of the committee, Mr. Jinja Onwusibe said that the investigation against two very important institutions in Nigeria, mentioned in the allegation was worrisome and needed to be cleared.

He noted that the investigation was not about Very Darkman or Bobrisky but about Nigeria.

When Mr. Okuneye was called upon to testify, his Legal counsel, Mr. Avwerosuoghene Omuvwie, said that Bobrisky couldn’t attend because he was not feeling well.

The Chairman said that Mr. Okuneye will be reinvited.

On his part, the Deputy Comptroller Michael Anogwa, said that Mr. Okuneye served in the Kirikiri medium Security Center, in Lagos for ten days.

He tendered evidence proving his testimony.

He however noted that Mr. Okuneye refused to eat food from the facility but applied for his siblings to be bringing food for him.

The Deputy Comptroller also said that on examination by Dr. Ifeoma Okpalauba, it was discovered that “though a male, Mr. Okuneye had some female features, a breast, which prompted him to be kept in protective custody”.

He noted that the rights of inmates are to be protected at all times.

“During the time of Idris Okuneye staying at the Minimum Corrections Center, he had thirty nine visitors,” he said.

The DC also pointed out that Mr. Okuneye was moved to Maximum Correction Service after the initial ten days.

When asked what type of people are kept in the minimum corrections centre, Mr. Anogwa said that they kept first time offenders.

The chairman of the committee, called for the CCTV footage of the movement of Mr. Okuneye from minimum to maximum security.

In his testimony, Assistant Comptroller General of Corrections, Ikoyi, Lagos, Mr. Ben Freeman, said that movement of inmates must carry warrants.

He said that following the donation of twenty one plastic chairs by Mr Idris Okuneye, he was moved to Maximum Correction Service due to security concerns.

The House frowned at the mode of transfer of Mr Okuneye through a private vehicle by Mr. Freeman.

Lateefah Ibrahim