“The principal parties to this saga whether Bobrisky or VeryDarkMan or anyone else involved are advised to take advantage of Section 63(1) ICPC Act 2000 by choosing to make a clean breast to the ICPC regarding all the facts they know concerning the viral audio recording”
THE ICPC IS THE PROPER AGENCY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE CLAIMS IN THE AUDIO RECORDING OF IDRIS OKUNEYE (BOBRISKY) AS RELEASED BY MARTINS OTSE (VERYDARKMAN)
Today, in the afternoon of the 30th of September, 2024, the Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Commission (ICPC) to investigate the claims contained in the viral audio recording released by Martins Otse (VeryDarkMan) purportedly being a recorded conversation by Idris Okuneye (Bobrisky) wherein alleged acts of bribery and corruption were reported against some officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).
As a civil society organization whose anti corruption and good governance advocacy relies heavily on the proper administration of justice and some law enforcement agencies, particularly the EFCC, it is important to get to the root of the issues raised in the viral audio recording.
The ICPC is in the best position to investigate the consequential issues flowing from the viral video, given its independence, impartiality and a track record of professionalism on such matters.
To that end, CASER appreciates the necessity for the continued existence of multiple anti-corruption law enforcement agencies so that they can act as checks and balances on one and other in situations like this when the integrity of one of Nigeria’s foremost anti corruption agency is at stake.
Furthermore, the recent declaration by Bobrisky that the said audio recording was an AI-generated voice modulation has heightened the urgency for the ICPC to apply its forensic investigative capabilities to
The principal parties to this saga whether Bobrisky or VeryDarkMan or anyone else involved are advised to take advantage of Section 63(1) ICPC Act 2000 by choosing to make a clean breast to the ICPC regarding all the facts they know concerning the viral audio recording.
CASER has made the petition to the ICPC in the public interest and a copy is hereto attached.
The task to save the institutions and governance standards of our country from its present calamitous decline is a collective one and this case of the viral audio recording must be seen to its logical conclusion.
Frank Tietie
Executive Director
Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER)
See the text of the Petition below:
30th September 2024
The Chairman
Independent Corrupt Practices Commission
Plot 802 Constitution Avenue,
Central District,
Abuja
Dear Sir,
ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION TO UNDERMINE THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA WHICH IS A MATTER OF GRAVE NATIONAL CONCERN:
CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT, IMPARTIAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF THE AUDIO RECORDING RELEASED BY A CERTAIN MARTINS OTSE (VERYDARKMAN) THAT ONE IDRIS OKUNEYE (BOBRISKY) ALLEGEDLY BRIBED SOME OFFICIALS OF THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) AND THE NIGERIAN CORRECTIONAL SERVICE (NCS)
We at Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER) have watched with deep concern how Martins Otse’s (VeryDarkMan) recent social media revelations have depicted some significant aspects of the Nigerian criminal justice system. These revelations have painted a picture of a system marred by a subterranean arrangement of bribery, favouritism, obstruction of justice, and barefaced corruption, severely undermining its integrity.
The said Martins Otse has released an audio recording that has universally gone viral. This recording, claimed to be a narrative of one Idris Okuneye alias Bobrisky, details how charges of money laundering were dropped against him by some officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in exchange for a bribe of Fifteen Million Naira (N15,000,000,00).
The said Bobrisky further alleged that some officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) solicited bribes from him, and he indeed gave them the bribes to be accorded preferential VIP treatment, which included being lodged in an apartment outside the prison (the correctional service centre).
We submit most respectfully, Sir, that the issues raised in the said viral audio recording are of grave national concern.
We trust that your leadership will invoke the powers of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
This is considering the massive media attention that was generated by the trial, conviction and sentencing of Bobrisky for offences bordering on Naira abuse.
In addition, the viral audio recording is presently depicting the Nigerian criminal justice system as a huge joke, which we find quite unacceptable.
By the principle of Nemo Judex in Causa Sua—no one can be a judge in his own case, we further submit with the greatest respect that any purported investigation by the EFCC, NCS, or the Ministry of Interior cannot be just and tenable because of the vicarious liability of these Federal Government agencies, which have failed to prevent the reported abuses and misfeasance by their officials and agents, cannot be the same exercising authority of a just, fair and unbiased investigation.
In the same vein, the House of Representatives’ attempt to investigate the issues by summoning the individuals and leadership of the agencies concerned is highly implausible because of the criminal elements associated with the issues.
Given the criminal dimension of the matters contained in the viral audio recording, it may appear to be mere window dressing and playing to the gallery if the hearing by the House of Representatives hearing is considered anything to go by.
It is our opinion that the nature of this is more appropriate within the purview of the ICPC by the provisions of its establishment act. This is without prejudice to the powers of the National Assembly to carry out investigations under Section 88 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, considering that there is an Act of the National Assembly mandating that the ICPC deal specifically with such acts of bribery and corruption, it would be in the national interest if the ICPC took up the investigation.
Only an independent and impartial anticorruption agency like the ICPC with a track record of diligence and adherence to legal and professional standards can get to the root of these issues and chart a path of national recovery from the social decadence that the contents of the viral audio recording have typified.
This is also given the recent twist to the whole saga by Bobrisky’s recent claim that the viral audio recording is an artificial intelligence (AI) generated voice modulation. Could this appear to be an unimaginable afterthought?
So much furore has been generated after the publication of the audio recording by the VeryDarkMan, and the Federal Government has taken many consequential actions, and the whole world is watching.
To think that the entire episode would be swept under the carpet of a particular way of doing things in Nigeria would not be in our collective interest as a people and country.
Consequently, Sir, we consider it most pertinent at this time of our national life that concerted efforts be made to reverse the pervasive trend of corruption. If allowed to overtake justice delivery, there might be no hope for a socially and economically stable Nigeria, now and in the future.
With utmost regards.
FOR: CITIZENS ADVOCACY FOR SOCIAL & ECONOMIC RIGHTS (CASER)
Frank Tie Tie.