Human rights lawyer Festus Ogun has criticized the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for the recent arrest of Nigerian crossdresser, Okuneye Idris, popularly known as Bobrisky. Ogun expressed his disapproval through a Facebook post, calling the arrest “arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional,” while emphasizing Bobrisky’s right to freedom of movement under Nigerian law.
Ogun stated that Bobrisky, who was detained while attempting to leave Nigeria at the Seme border, has no pending charges against him. He questioned the legal basis for the arrest, which was reportedly carried out because Bobrisky is considered “a person of interest over recent issues of public concern.”
In his statement, Ogun said: “Denying a Nigerian citizen the right to leave his country without a legal basis is entirely wrongful. There are no charges currently pending against Bobrisky. What exactly is the alleged offense that would warrant his arrest and continuous harassment? What is the legal justification for denying him the right to freedom of movement and personal liberty guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution?”
Ogun warned against setting a dangerous precedent that could be used to restrict the rights of citizens, particularly journalists, activists, and vocal critics of the government, under vague terms like “persons of interest.” He urged the NIS to refrain from infringing on citizens’ fundamental rights without a clear legal framework.
Bobrisky was intercepted at the border on Monday and reportedly spent the night in custody at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) annex in Alagbon, Lagos. Ogun’s statement underscores growing concerns about the arbitrary use of state power to limit individual freedoms in Nigeria.
