The Deputy Controller of the Maximum Correctional Center, Kirikiri, Lagos, Michael Anugwa, has admitted that crossdresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky, was placed in a separate cell.

Recall that Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, had in a video alleged that Bobrisky who was convicted of a crime and sentenced to six months in jail was given an apartment outside the custodial centre.

Reacting to the claim on Monday, Anugwa while addressing members of the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions, insisted that Bobrisky was not at any point held in a facility outside the correctional center.

His words: “Bobrisky was admitted on the 13th of April with a valid warrant and a transfer order from Ikoyi Correctional facility.

“The warrant was given to me the same day of his conviction. The biometric was taken the next day because when he came was around 10:30 p.m. So it was done on the 13th of April 2024.

“Idris spent 10 days at the Medium Correctional Center and was moved to maximum, because he refused to eat the prison food.

“He then applied for self-feeding which was approved and Bobrisky nominated two persons to bring his food to the facility — Ogunleye Abiola and Moji Ogunleye.

“During the admission, we discovered that Idris, though a man, had special features like breasts that would not allow us put him in the general cell.

“We agreed to put him in a separate cell. While he was there he had a total of 39 visitors.”

THE Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has vowed to mobilise and join forces with Nigerians against the practices of unitarianism in Nigerian politics.

Afenifere stated this in a communique issued after its monthly meeting held at Isanya Ogbo Ogun State, the residence of its Leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.

The communique, by its Deputy Leader and National Publicity Secretary, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Justice Faloye respectively, reads: “Afenifere resolved to, in due course and soon, mobilise and join democratic forces with all lovers of Nigeria against all tenets, tendencies, pretences, policies and practices of unitarianism in the Nigerian body of politics.

“Afenifere notes the introduction of a bill to establish a National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission, NILGEC, for the conduct of Local Government elections and considers the idea as nothing but a monumental multiplication of INEC’s inefficiencies at 774 degrees.

“The idea of a federal agency to conduct local government elections is a veritable weapon in furtherance of the undisguised policy of complete capture and absolute unitarianism of the Nigerian Federation by the Central Government, a policy that has attained its crescendo under the present administration.

“Afenifere decries all forms of political rascality aimed at stifling democracy by the two tiers of the Nigerian government structure and equally condemns in unmistakable terms political gerrymandering pushing Nigeria into a unitary state by wielders of transient political power contrary to the existential covenant of federalism.

“The Federal Government and its INEC have proven not better at conducting the limited elections with which they are saddled by the Constitution.”

A father, Samson, in Evwreni Community of Delta State, who smashed his son to death, killed a nursing mother and injured others in inexplicable circumstances, was apprehended by the agitated mob, who beat him to death, setting his corpse on fire in an act of jungle justice.

Samson, whose other name could not be ascertained at press time, committed the outrageous act in the wee hours of yesterday. 

A source said that Samson about 2a.m., yesterday smashed his son to death and in the course of sympathizing, killed a nursing mother identified as Princess and injured a yet-to-be-identified male.

A source who craved anonymity revealed that Samson had been behaving strangely and that he was to be taken to a medical centre for medications before the unfortunate incident occurred.

According to him, “He smashed his toddler son, then machete a woman who took her son out to toilet to death, and injured the youths in process of trying to apprehend him, he injured more persons.

“After the incident, he was finally apprehended, beaten to a stupor and his remains were set ablaze with his motorcycle.”

Though the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Edafe Bright could not respond to his call at press time, but a senior security source, who confirmed the incident, said: “Before our men could get to the scene, the suspect has been set ablaze.”

There are indications that the nation’s currency has come under fresh demand pressure in the parallel market with significant depreciation recorded in the past week. 

Yesterday, parallel market dealers traded at N1,705/ $1.00 down from N1,655/$1.00 a week ago, with sustained day-to-day slide. 

Vanguard’s Naira watch indicates the steady slide is happening for the first time in several weeks unlike the daily fluctuation within a narrow band of between N1645 and N1,655/$1.00 recorded in the past two months.
Dealers in the parallel market told Vanguard that there was an indication of supply shortfalls in the past two weeks which may have sparked the depreciation in the market.

The development may have also affected the official market segment as data from FMDQ, shows the indicative exchange rate for Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM, depreciated to N1541.94/$1.0 yesterday from N1540.78/ $1.0 over the weekend, indicating a 96 kobo depreciation.

The exchange rate development in the third quarter of 2024, Q4’24, also indicated a reversal of the positive trend recorded towards the end of last year.

In a surprising positive trend, the Naira closed last year in the parallel market at N1,215/$1.00, after it had previously hit N1,800/$1.0 quarter average in the third quarter of 2023.

The local currency further resumed the new year 2024 in a positive trend with an appreciation at N1,220/$1.0.

However, the trend reversed in the second quarter of the year with steady depreciation to a quarterly average of N1,620/$1.00 at the end of the second quarter, 2024.

After two months of stability at N1,630/$1.00 in most parts of the third quarter, the latest round of depreciation may have now started, with the fears that the high point of depreciation in Q4’23 may be underway for a repeat.

However, stakeholders in the economy have projected further rises in prices due to the continuous depreciation of the naira against the dollar especially in the parallel market.

Commenting on the development, the President Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, BCAN, Dr. Uju Ogubunka said: “The depreciation of the naira can be associated with demand chasing limited supply. It is the result of FX Supply gaps.

“The implications can be many but it shows the level of confidence or lack of it in the capacity of the country to meet the FX requirements in the market.

“Generally, it will impact on the cost of imported goods into the country and the prices at which such goods will eventually be sold on arrival.

“So, we should be prepared to complain more about high prices of goods in the market.”

Meanwhile, the volume of dollars traded (turnover) in the NAFEM rose year-on-year (YoY) by 61 per cent to $33.7 billion in the first nine months of 2024 (9M’24) from $20.9 billion in 9M’ 24.

Today in Lagos, the Oyo family - husband, children, grandchildren, in laws and the extended families from Ekitiland, Urhoboland and elsewhere as well as friends and former colleagues would be holding a remembrance and thanksgiving service in honour of Mrs. Felicia Oluremi Oyo, at the Catholic Church of Presentation, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. Ten years ago, Mrs Oyo left this earthly prison house and transited to the great beyond, to tranquil Heaven at the relatively young age of 61. Thomas Campbell says, and he is right that “to live in the hearts of those we love is not to die”. Mrs. Oyo lives on, her memory endures, and her example stands out in terms of her great accomplishments. She was a journalist of the first rank. She did not want to be identified as a female journalist but as a pressman, and indeed a pressman she was, out there in the forefront of action, inspiring younger journalists both male and female in the process. In one of those ironies of life that no one can explain she was born in the month of October. She died also in the same month, less than two weeks to her 62nd birthday as a result of cancer. But hers was a life of impact, love and influence. She studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos and obtained a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Kent. Journalism was her career and in this she excelled. She started as a reporter with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in 1973 – the story out there is that she met her husband, Mr. Vincent Oyo while working in radio, and the two Oyos would in later life carve a niche for themselves in both journalism and marketing communications. Mrs. Oyo left the NBC to join the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in 1981, and rose to become the Principal Editor of NAN. She later joined the Inter Press Service (IPS) and again rose to become the Nigerian Bureau Chief and later, West African Bureau Chief. 

It was around this time that our paths crossed. Auntie as we fondly called her had become very active in the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). Under Mr. Biodun Oduwole, NGE President, 1992 – 1994, Mrs. Oyo was a member of the standing committee but she was very influential, known by younger journalists as “Mama awon Boys” because of her generosity. Together, the Oduwole team presided over one of the golden moments of the Guild. Mr. Oduwole was then Managing Editor at the Nigerian Tribune in Ibadan, which was practically in the hands of both Mr Oduwole and Mr. Folu Olamiti as Editor Daily. Even before the emergence of Mr. Oduwole as President, he had been friends with some of us who were members of the OSU Collective, and three of us got close to him. In those days, in the early 90s, members of the OSU Collective were prolific on the pages of newspapers, generating debates and contributing to public affairs issues of the day. Three of us: Wale Olaitan, Sina Kawonise and I were close to Mr. Oduwole who took it upon himself to encourage these brilliant young lecturers from Ogun State University as it then was. I was in the Department of English, Kawonise in Sociology and Olaitan in Political Science. Like all young men, we thought we could change the world with our pens and lyrical prose. It was through Egbon as we called Mr. Oduwole that we got to know Mrs Oyo, and she just took to us as her aburos. 

By 1994, I had left Ogun State University to join the Guardian Newspapers as a member of the Editorial Board. I recall that in September that year, I had to travel to Egypt to attend the International Conference on Population and Development (5 -13 September 1994) under the auspices of the National Council on Population and Environmental Activities, an NGO led by Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi. I was then one of the resource persons to the NCPEA, under the guidance of Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi who provided opportunities for us to know more about developing trends in the world. When we arrived in Egypt and I went to the press centre, there was Mrs. Remi Oyo, manning the IPS desk. I saw her at work, writing stories, casting headlines, conducting interviews. She enjoyed what she did: to tell stories. When we were in Cairo, I casually mentioned to Auntie that I was planning to get married. She promptly asked me what I would need. I told her I brought some money to buy wedding rings. One late afternoon, she left her desk and she took me somewhere inside Cairo where she said we would get original gold. When we finished buying the gold rings, she asked me to follow her again to another store. She then asked me to look for any shoe that I felt comfortable with. She paid for the pair of shoes and said that is the shoe I want you to wear on your wedding day: from me to you! I would later visit Aunty at her office at the National Theatre where she had become the head of IPS. In those days, the National Theatre (now Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts) was the rendezvous for artists. We went there to watch films, stage plays or simply to congregate at a place called Abe Igi, to socialize and enjoy an assortment of delicacies. Auntie’s office was just down the road from Abe Igi and I used to go there. It was not difficult to see that although she was head of IPS, she had great rapport with the people in NAN who shared the same premises. She moved from NAN to IPS, but she had friends on both sides. She was a doyenne of wire service journalism. 

In 1998, Mrs. Oyo showed interest in the Presidency of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. Garba Shehu who was Oduwole’s Deputy President had just completed his term (1994 -1997) and the position was due to return to the South. We the boys were like “Auntie Must Win!”.  IN short, all the boys championed her campaign. She eventually emerged as the President and ended up serving for five years (1998 – 2003).  She lifted the profile of the office and was very good at getting support for the media from authority figures. She was for record purposes the first woman to serve as President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors since 1961, when Alhaji Lateef Jakande was the pioneer President of the Guild.  Mrs. Oyo performed so excellently, it can be said of her legacy that she inspired other women within the profession to take a keen interest in the affairs of both the NGE and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). In the West, East and the North, women began to occupy key positions in the media unions. In Lagos, Mrs. Funke Fadugba as Chairman of the Lagos NUJ was such a formidable force. She singlehandedly set up two estates for journalists and turned many into landlords. Lagos Journalists would be forever grateful to Funke Fadugba as the brain behind Journalists Estate in Arepo and PEN Estate along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Unfortunately, when Funke Fadugba wanted to become President of the NUJ, she was betrayed by her own colleagues from the Lagos Chapter. In 2016, following in Mrs. Oyo’s footsteps, Funke Egbemode emerged as the President of the NGE and spent three remarkable years in the saddle as the second female President.

Mrs Oyo’s distinction did not go unnoticed. In 2003, she was appointed Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Again, she served meritoriously in that position, earning her the national honour of Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) in 2006. When President Yar’Adua assumed office in 2007, Mrs. Oyo was shortly after named the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria. It was a kind of homecoming for her, returning to her former base, and reuniting with old colleagues. Her tenure as MD, NAN was not without a measure of controversy. But what I recall vividly was her advice to me when President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan appointed me as his Spokesperson/ Special Adviser – Media and Publicity in 2011. She was one of the first persons to reach out to me.

“Reuben, my advice to you will be basically three things. Number one, the person you need most on this job is the President, the man who gave you the job. If you have him on your side, you are good. You will survive. This is a very tough job.  The politics is heavy.”

She then went on to tell me about how many people would be interested in the office because of the glamour of being the spokesperson for the President.  She mentioned names of persons who would go behind her to President Obasanjo just to malign her. But at every turn, President Obasanjo stood by her.

“No. 2”, she said, “be very careful with our colleagues. They are the biggest threat to anyone in this office. They will bad mouth you. They will try to pull you down. They will claim that they know how to do the job better than you. They will envy you and try to undermine you. Just hold on to your principal. Once the President believes you are doing a good job, there is nothing anybody can do to you.”

“No. 3”, she added, “take good care of your health. This job drains you from head to toe. You will be busy throughout and yet everybody will criticize you. But you have to keep healthy and safe. If anything happens to you, it is only your family that will be most affected. Stay healthy and alive for your family.” 

This last bit frightened me a little. Mrs. Oyo’s predecessor in the same office, Mr. Tunji Oseni had died from complications from a respiratory condition. Seeing that I was a bit scared, she brought the conversation to an end with: “Aburo, good luck. You’d be fine.” 

She was right on every score. Nobody can do the job of a spokesperson without the principal’s support. One of the first things I experienced was what became known in the Villa at the time as “The Gap Theory”. It was explained to me by a gentleman called Akachukwu Sullivan Nwakpo. In my early days at the Villa, Akachukwu had thought it necessary to explain the gap theory to me as follows: that the Villa is a dog-eat-dog space. You have to man your space and guard it jealously. If you are off guard for a minute, someone would see that as an opportunity and try to do your job for you. He advised me to be vigilant and keep out interlopers. 

Media work was actually something everyone thought they could do including those who could not write a successful paragraph in the English language. People would come to me and tell me “Oga says you must write this press release”. Twice, I fell for their trick. I took the statements to President Jonathan, until he had to make it clear to me that I must never issue any statement without his direct authorization or listen to any third party giving me instructions. Nonetheless, there were persons who thought they knew best how to do the job. Our colleagues in the media, as Mrs. Oyo predicted, were not very kind either. They used to go behind to seek audience with President Jonathan. Some of them even brought drafts of speeches, not knowing the President would still hand over every draft to me with the rider: “see if there is anything you can take from this or that draft. Some of my friends in the media brought them to me”. These friends in the media had developed a method of by-passing my office. In the end, their hustle did not make any difference. President Jonathan had assured me that I should not be bothered. As President, it was his duty to encourage everyone and give people hope. Did I try to protect the territory as Akachukwu advised? I leave that to other people to judge.  Did I keep safe? That is another story for another day. I was too glad to return home in one piece. It is not everything that a hunter sees or hears in the forest that he gets back home to tell.  After leaving Aso Villa, one of the things I did was to visit Chief Duro Onabule (1939 – 2022), popularly known as double Chief. He is a veteran journalist, former Editor of the National Concord (1984-1985). He had just returned from vacation in England, and he called to say he had bought a book for me. I went to his residence at Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi. He had stories to tell, similar to Mrs Oyo’s comments about the spokesperson’s assignment. He re-echoed Mrs Oyo’s experience when he told me that the biggest threat to any journalist in government is his or her own colleagues. Double Chief was spokesperson to President Ibrahim Babangida.

I remembered Mrs Oyo’s advice the other day when Ajuri Ngelale threw in the towel as President Tinubu’s spokesperson. Was he muscled out by some of our colleagues who wanted his job, and thought they were better at it or better qualified? Did he protect his territory enough? Or was he a victim of Akachukwu’s gap theory? And there was a line in his letter of resignation: that he needed to attend to his family’s medical needs. Again, this thing about health and one’s family after an encounter with Aso Villa.  Did he have President Tinubu’s full support? Many lessons for future spokespersons. 

But we are here this morning to remember and celebrate late Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, FNGE, FNIM, OON (1952 – 2014). “Almighty God, we remember with thanksgiving Mrs Remi Oyo, Thank you for everything we treasure about her, for all that she means to us. Take care of her, Lord, until we all reach that time and place where every tear is dry, every question answered and all things are made new. Lord in your love, Hear our prayer. Amen.” 

The Deputy Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, Michael Anugwa, has denied his suspension by the service.

Anugwa is the officer in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos State, where popular crossdresser Bobrisky served his jail term.

DAILY POST reports that Bobrisky was sentenced to a four-month jail term in April 2024 over misuse of the naira.

Popular social media critic, VeryDarkMan, leaked an audio recording of Bobrisky narrating how he bribed the officials with N15 million to spend his jail term in a private apartment close to the Lagos correctional centre.

Bobrisky further stated that singer Falz contacted him about obtaining a presidential pardon for him through his father, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, for N10 million.

Following the controversy generated by the audio, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, announced the suspension of Anugwa alongside Sikiru Adekunle, Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of the Maximum-Security Custodial Centre.

However, addressing members of the House of Representatives committee investigating the bribery allegation against the anti-graft agency and the NCoS on Monday, September 30, 2024, Anugwa stated that his suspension was a social media report.

“I wasn’t served a letter,” he said.

A former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has written to the National Assembly, requesting an amendment to the Constitution to allow for a six-year single term for the President and state governors.

In a memorandum to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, Atiku also proposed that the presidency be rotated between the North and South.

It is noteworthy that during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency, he advocated for a six-year single term for the presidential seat.

Following the 2023 general elections, Atiku has continued to support this tenure proposal.

He stated, “The office of the President shall rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the federation on a single term of six years, flowing between the North and South on the single term of six years respectively.”

Atiku urged the National Assembly to “amend Section 135(2) to read: ‘Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), the President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of six years.’”

Additionally, he proposed the “substitution of an aspirant” in Section 285(14)(a) with “a voter.”

The former Vice President also suggested that the minimum educational qualification for a person to run for election should be the Ordinary National Diploma instead of the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination. He proposed an amendment to Section 65(2)(a) to read: “He has been educated up to at least Ordinary National Diploma in any recognised academic institution.”

Furthermore, he recommended the insertion of a paragraph in Section 65(2)(a)(i) to read: “Evidence of certificates of all educational qualifications of a candidate shall be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission or an affidavit by the candidate in the event of loss of his/her educational certificates, qualifications obtained, and dates, stating the schools attended.”

Atiku also advocated for political parties to have more power in the candidate selection process. He proposed an “amendment to Section 65(2)(b) to read: ‘He is a member of a political party whose name is in the register to be made available by his political party to the Independent National Electoral Commission 30 days before the conduct of the political party’s primary and he is sponsored by that party.’”

Ahead of the planned nationwide protests on Tuesday, October 1, pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has said the planned demonstration is within the right of Nigerians.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerian youths are planning to stage a nationwide protest on the day the nation is celebrating its Independence Day anniversary.

The protest is birthed by the growing hunger and other economic hardship bedevilling the citizens.

Speaking on the matter, the Leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, that “it is the right of the people to do so.”

The organisation, however, pleaded that such should be done peacefully without looting or causing any damage to property and without harming anybody.

The statement called on the federal government under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to do more in the areas of security, agriculture, education, and the economy and increase its efforts at ensuring that available infrastructure functions while also working on providing more.

“State governments are also urged to do more in infrastructure and service delivery, particularly in those areas where there is no constitutional inhibition for them.

“The local governments too should be alive to their responsibilities now that they are having fiscal autonomy so that people’s welfare can improve tremendously,” he said.

According to the statement, Afenifere also commended the enduring spirit of Nigerians, expressing optimism that things should take a better shape soonest.

The Afenifere leader opined that although the country is going through a challenging moment, there is a need to acknowledge the modest progress made since independence.

The newly-inaugurated Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Motomori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, vowed on Monday in Abuja that obedience to court orders will not be negotiable under her watch.

She said that no individual or institution, irrespective of their standing, would be permitted to treat judgments of the court with levity or disregard.

The CJN spoke on the occasion of the commencement of the 2024/2025 legal year and the inauguration of the 87 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) held at the Supreme Court.

Justice Kekere-Ekun stated that the judiciary stands resolute in ensuring that the sanctity of legal decisions is upheld in line with the rule of law.

To achieve this new narrative, the CJN canvassed that all hands must be on deck in fostering an unwavering commitment to the full enthronement of the rule of law.

“Disobedience to court orders or non-compliance with judicial directives is a direct affront to democracy and an invitation to anarchy.

“As such, it is critical that we respect and observe all the features of an enduring democracy, for in doing so, we maintain the delicate balance that sustains our society.”

“Let us, therefore, work together collectively and tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria continues to abide by the rule of law, upholds the best democratic practices, and remains vigilant in the protection of citizens’ rights.

“The rights of every Nigerian must be valiantly safeguarded against oppression and impunity, utilizing the full array of legal instruments at our disposal.”

Maintaining that a new dawn and a new era in the Nigerian judiciary has come with her appointment, Justice Kekere-Ekun assured Nigerians of her commitment to work diligently to improve public perception of the judiciary.

According to her, “Over the years, various factors have contributed to the negative image of the judiciary. However, we are determined to change the narrative and make the judiciary a source of pride for all Nigerians.”

“When the legal compass of a nation falters, everything suffers, including public and international perception.”

“The attitude of some of us in the justice sector is sometimes less than salutary, and that has contributed to the current image deficit of the country’s legal system.”

The CJN condemned the forum shopping by some lawyers, which she claimed has led to the emergence of conflicting orders by courts of coordinated jurisdiction.

To address this ugly trend, the CJN vowed that there will be consequences for any act of indiscretion that could bring the judiciary to disrepute.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied receiving a bribe to drop the money laundering charge against controversial crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky.

The EFCC, on Monday, explained that the allegations of money laundering were dropped based on Bobrisky’s confessional statement on naira abuse in court and the disclosure of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, that Okunenye’s firm, Bob Express, was not a Designated Non Financial Institution, Business and Profession, DNFIBP, and could not be prosecuted for flouting provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention & Prohibition Act, 2022.

The representative of the anti-graf agency, Bilikisu Bala, head of the prosecution team that handled the trial of Bobrisky, who made the clarification during an appearance before the House of Representatives investigative committee probing the alleged case of ₦15 million bribery involving Bobrisky and the EFCC, added that it is well within the powers of the agency to amend charges.

Bala denied any insinuation that the EFCC or any of its operatives received a bribe to drop the charges against Bobrisky.

“We initially raised six count charges bordering on Naira Abuse and Money Laundering against Okuneye based on his confessional statement that his firm, Bob Express, was not registered with SCUML and was not rendering returns to it. Counts 1-4 were on Naira Abuse while counts five and six were on money laundering. Okuneye’s confession that he didn’t register his firm, Bob Express with SCUML and not rendering returns to it informed the money laundering charges initially included in the six count charges. However, when we wrote to SCUML on the status of the firm, the Unit responded that it was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business and Profession, DNFIBP. We cannot lawfully sustain the charges in all sincerity. We, therefore dropped them and relied on the four counts on Naira mutilation to which Okuneye had pleaded guilty”, she said.

The prosecutor dismissed claims of financial inducement in dropping charges maintaining that no such thing happened.

“There is simply no basis for that. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, allows amendment of charges. It is a professional practice. It is laughable for anyone to attribute our decision to monetary issues. Why did we write to SCUML if we didn’t want to include the charges? We wrote to be lawfully guided and when the Unit responded that the firm had not breached any law, on what basis should we have retained the money laundering charges?,” she said.

The Chairman of the Committee, Ginger Onwusibe, however, said that at the next meeting, the person who did the audio recording on the alleged bribery should appear before the committee while the meeting was adjourned sine die.

Meanwhile, the lawyer to Bobrisky, Avwerosuoghene Omuvwie, told the investigative committee that his client couldn’t appear physically due to health issues.