Bobrisky Sues EFCC, National Assembly Over Alleged Rights Violation, Seeks N1.2bn in Damages

Controversial Nigerian crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has filed a lawsuit demanding N1.2 billion in damages from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Assembly, claiming they violated his fundamental rights.

Bobrisky’s legal action follows a string of events stemming from a leaked audio recording in which an activist, VeryDarkMan, alleged that Bobrisky paid N15 million to EFCC officials to drop money laundering charges against him. The crossdresser has denied the authenticity of the recording, which also claimed he was given preferential treatment during his six-month prison sentence for currency abuse earlier this year.

In the recording, Bobrisky purportedly named his “godfather” and Haliru Nababa, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), as key figures who ensured he served his sentence in a private apartment rather than a standard prison facility. Despite the claims, Bobrisky has threatened legal action against VeryDarkMan over the alleged falsification.

In response, the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions has initiated an investigation into the bribery allegations, inviting all parties involved, including Bobrisky and VeryDarkMan, to testify.

On Saturday, Bobrisky shared a court document dated October 10 on his Instagram, revealing that the EFCC and the National Assembly were prohibited from harassing, detaining, or declaring him wanted. He claims the EFCC invited him for questioning based solely on the disputed audio recording, which he says was not properly investigated. He further asserts that the mishandling of the case caused significant harm to his reputation and personal safety.

Bobrisky is seeking N200 million in damages from the EFCC for the psychological trauma and invasion of privacy he allegedly suffered, as well as N1 billion from the National Assembly for infringing on his right to a fair hearing and privacy.

In his lawsuit, Bobrisky accuses the EFCC of relying on unverified information and making public statements that led to social media ridicule, threats, and harassment. He also alleges that the National Assembly violated his rights by making baseless allegations without conducting a thorough investigation.