The traditional ruler of Kirikiri Town, Baale Babalola Shabi, has made shocking revelations about internet personality Bobrisky, claiming the socialite never actually served the six-month prison sentence handed down in 2024 for abusing Nigeria’s currency.
Speaking to press representatives and community members, the Baale alleged that Bobrisky successfully evaded time behind bars by orchestrating a bribery scheme with the aid of corrupt prison officials.
“Before the truth came out, everyone believed he was in Kirikiri serving his time. But the reality is that Bobrisky was living comfortably outside the prison walls, thanks to a criminal collaboration involving some officials,” Baale Shabi stated.
The community leader disclosed that the fraud came to light when he noticed suspicious financial activity involving Point of Sale (POS) operators around Kirikiri.
According to him, Bobrisky smuggled eight Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards into the custodial centre and used them to move N35 million through local POS agents.
The transactions were allegedly used to bribe prison personnel, enabling him to avoid incarceration.
“I personally called in the EFCC after I summoned the POS operators to my palace. From there, they were able to trace the transactions and decode the money trail. It was shocking how ₦35 million could be sourced from around here so quickly. Clearly, this was not a one-man job,” he said.
In the aftermath of the discovery, Baale Shabi confirmed that some prison officials implicated in the scandal have already been suspended pending further investigation.
He emphasized his role in bringing the truth to light, stating that he had been questioned by both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“The DSS first invited me for questioning, and I told them everything I knew. The EFCC also reached out, and I gave them my full cooperation. As a community leader, I cannot allow this type of impunity to go unchecked,” he asserted firmly.
Bobrisky, who was convicted in 2024 after pleading guilty to defacing the naira, had been widely believed to have completed his six-month sentence in Kirikiri prison.
His release was initially met with surprise and criticism, particularly from social media activist Very Dark Man, who publicly questioned the legitimacy of Bobrisky’s incarceration.
The controversy deepened after a voice note surfaced on September 24, 2024, in which Bobrisky admitted to bribing EFCC officials.
In the viral audio clip, Bobrisky claimed he paid ₦15 million to some unnamed EFCC officers in order to make his money laundering charges disappear.
More startlingly, he confessed that instead of serving his punishment in prison, he was quietly relocated to a private residence where he remained until his supposed sentence was completed.
The allegations have now raised serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s criminal justice system, prompting calls for a deeper investigation and accountability at all levels.
