Nigerian social media celebrity Bobrisky, real name Idris Okuneye, faced a turbulent incident on November 1, 2024, when authorities detained him at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Bobrisky was preparing to depart for Amsterdam on a KLM flight when immigration officers removed him and subsequently handed him over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He claims he was injured during an altercation with officials and expressed his distress on Instagram, asking followers for support and alleging that the EFCC was behind his arrest.
The incident stems from serious allegations Bobrisky made earlier. In a widely circulated voice note, Bobrisky claimed he had paid a bribe of 15 million naira (approximately $19,500) to EFCC officials to drop money laundering accusations against him.
This claim, which he shared through a controversial social critic known as VeryDarkMan, led the EFCC to summon him several times to provide evidence. However, Bobrisky reportedly ignored these summonses, leading to the agency’s decision to detain him at the airport as he attempted to leave the country
EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwajaren noted that if Bobrisky’s bribery claims against the agency prove false, he could face fresh charges for providing misleading information. Officials emphasized that they had invited him multiple times to corroborate his allegations, but he failed to respond.
A top EFCC source stated, “The allegations are too weighty to let slide,” explaining that he was finally detained to clarify his claims directly. Following his detention in Lagos, the EFCC arranged for his transfer to Abuja, where he will undergo further interrogation to provide evidence of his bribery accusations.
This high-profile case has drawn attention not only for the circumstances of Bobrisky’s arrest but also for the broader implications regarding alleged corruption within the EFCC, especially in light of his widely publicized allegations and accusations of misconduct within the agency.
