Prison experts have provided insight into why controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, was kept separate from other inmates during his time in a correctional facility.
On The Morning Show of Arise TV, Bishop Kayode Williams, the Director General of the Prison Rehabilitation Mission, explained that inmates are housed according to specific categories.
For instance, condemned prisoners, especially those on death row, are separated from other inmates.
Speaking on Bobrisky’s case, Williams pointed out that the prison authorities had to consider his transgender appearance.
He questioned whether it would be appropriate for Bobrisky to share a general cell with other male inmates.
According to him, the prison system had to decide how to manage someone with a unique identity like Bobrisky’s. Williams struggled with pronouns during the conversation, alternating between referring to Bobrisky as “he” and “she.”
Williams clarified that Bobrisky was placed in protective custody due to safety concerns.
He said that given Bobrisky’s feminine appearance, he could be vulnerable to unwanted advances or harm from homosexual inmates.
Francis Enobore, former National PRO of the Nigerian Correctional Service, backed up Williams’ explanation, stressing that the correctional service profiles each inmate to ensure their safety and to protect the overall environment.
He noted that although Bobrisky identified as male in court, his appearance was more feminine, raising concerns about potential security threats from some inmates.
However, Enobore dismissed rumors of Bobrisky receiving a private section, stating that no inmate, including Bobrisky, is given such special accommodations.
These clarifications come amidst ongoing controversy surrounding Bobrisky’s incarceration.
A voice note recently surfaced, in which Bobrisky allegedly claimed he was not in prison and suggested that his godfather and the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service had arranged for him to serve his sentence in a private apartment.
Following these claims, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board announced the suspension of two deputy controllers at the Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre in Lagos on September 26.
The suspension is linked to alleged bribery involving Bobrisky’s imprisonment and the resulting controversy.
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