Nigeria’s social media landscape has been set ablaze by allegations that internet celebrity Bobrisky, born Idris Okuneye, may have served his recent prison sentence in luxurious comfort rather than behind bars. The controversy, which erupted on September 25, 2024, has reignited debates about privilege, justice, and the influence of social media personalities in the country.
The storm began when social media influencer RadioGad made a startling claim on his popular Twitter account. “Bobrisky was never imprisoned,” RadioGad asserted. He was instead chilling in his own VIP apartment.” This bombshell allegation quickly went viral, accumulating over 100,000 retweets within hours.
RadioGad’s statement came on the heels of similar accusations made by another social media personality known as VeryDarkMan. In a live Instagram video that garnered over 500,000 views, VeryDarkMan alleged that Bobrisky had “conspired with several government officers to spend his prison sentence in a private apartment.
Bobrisky, who has over 5 million followers on Instagram, was quick to deny these claims. In a tersely worded post, the celebrity stated, “All these are lies. I served my time like any other inmate. Period.” However, the denial did little to quell the growing controversy.
Public reaction has been swift and divided. Lagos resident Oluwaseun Adebayo expressed skepticism about Bobrisky’s denial: “We’ve seen too many cases of the rich and famous getting special treatment. If these allegations are true, it’s a slap in the face of justice.”
On the other hand, longtime Bobrisky fan Chioma Nwosu defended the celebrity: “People are just jealous of Bob’s success. They’ll say anything to bring him down. Where’s the proof?”
Adding fuel to the fire, an unidentified man released a video statement corroborating the allegations against Bobrisky. In the video, which has since been viewed over 2 million times across various platforms, the man claimed, “Bobrisky, the mummy of Lagos was never in prison. Bobrisky was chilling in an apartment and when Bobrisky was in that apartment, he was chatting with me.”
The anonymous source, whose face was blurred in the video, went on to describe himself as a former supporter of Bobrisky who had defended the celebrity in the past. “I defended him a couple of times and you guys know that. He’s an ungrateful person and I’m here with proof, he never ever went to prison,” the man stated.
Perhaps the most damning piece of evidence presented in the video was an alleged voice note from Bobrisky. In the audio clip, a voice resembling Bobrisky’s can be heard saying, “Darling, don’t worry about me. This ‘prison’ isn’t so bad. The AC is always on, and I have my phone. It’s like a little vacation.”
While the authenticity of the voice note has yet to be verified by independent sources, its release has intensified calls for an official investigation into the matter.
The allegations have caught the attention of Nigeria’s legal community. Barrister Emeka Okafor, a prominent Lagos-based lawyer, weighed in on the potential ramifications: “If these claims are substantiated, we’re looking at a serious breach of Nigeria’s correctional system protocols. This could implicate not just Bobrisky, but also any government officials involved in such an arrangement.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) issued a brief statement in response to the growing controversy: “We are aware of the allegations circulating on social media. The NCS takes all claims of impropriety seriously, and we will be conducting a thorough internal review of this matter.”
The incident has also highlighted the power of social media in shaping public discourse. With millions of engagements across various platforms, the Bobrisky controversy has dominated online conversations in Nigeria for days.
To understand the magnitude of this scandal, it’s crucial to consider Bobrisky’s journey to fame. Rising to prominence through provocative social media posts and gender-nonconforming presentation, Bobrisky has become one of Nigeria’s most recognizable internet personalities.
However, this is not the first time Bobrisky has found himself at the center of controversy. In 2022, he faced backlash for comments about traditional Nigerian values, and in 2023, he was briefly detained for alleged cryptocurrency fraud, though charges were later dropped.
As the controversy continues to unfold, there are growing calls for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations. Civil society organizations have demanded transparency from both Bobrisky and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The Bobrisky imprisonment scandal has evolved from a social media controversy into a significant test of Nigeria’s justice system and the influence of internet celebrities. As investigations proceed and more details emerge, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for how justice is perceived and administered in the age of social media.
Whether the allegations prove true or false, one thing is certain: the controversy has sparked a national conversation about equality before the law, the power of social media, and the responsibilities that come with internet fame.
