A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, fondly called Bobrisky, to six months imprisonment over naira abuse.
The presiding judge, Justice Abimbola Awogboro, sentenced Bobrisky to prison on Friday, April 12, 2024.
Delivering judgement on Friday, Justice Awogboro held that: “The act of mutilating the Naira notes has become a menace, which has continued to damage the image of the country.
“Enough of people mutilating and tampering with our currencies. It has to stop. His will serve as a deterrent to others.”
The Judge, therefore, sentenced him to six months imprisonment, without an option of fine, from the date of his remand.
In his plea for mercy, Bobrisky said: “I am a social media influencer, with five million followers; and in all honesty, I was not aware of the law. I wish I can be given a second chance to use my platform to educate my followers against the abuse of the Naira.”
Also, his lawyer had said: “He will lead the crusade against the abuse of Naira. He is also an employer of people; and if he goes to jail, the people he employs will suffer. He has cooperated with the EFCC and has not wasted the time of the court. We urge the court to caution the defendant and allow him to go. He has given evidence that he will be useful to the country. We urge you to grant a non-custodial sentencing option of fine.”
After listening to both parties, the Judge had deferred judgement in the matter to Tuesday, April 9, 2024 and also ordered that he be remanded in the EFCC custody.
Justice Awogboro had, thereafter, ruled that “upon the admission of guilt by the defendant, testimony of PW1 and following the evidence tendered, the defendant is declared guilty as charged.”
Bobrisky was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court convicted him last Friday, April 5, following his guilty plea, but reserved sentence until April 9.
The court had ordered the remand of the cross-dresser in EFCC custody pending sentencing.
However, due to the Federal Government’s declaration of April 9, 10, and April 11 as public holidays, the case could not proceed as scheduled.
On Friday, Justice Awogboro sentenced Bobrisky to six months in prison without an option of a fine.
The judge declared that the imprisonment would take effect from the date of the cross-dresser’s arrest.
Court remands Bobrisky in EFCC custody
Bobrisky was taken away by EFCC operatives immediately after his sentencing.
The EFCC had, on April 4, filed a six-count charge against Bobrisky.
The charge bordered on naira mutilation and money laundering.
He was consequently arraigned on April 5 and he pleaded guilty to the first four counts.
The court struck out the last two counts following an application by the EFCC.
On April 5, a prosecution witness and Assistant Superintendent of EFCC, Bolaji Temitope, gave evidence before the court and narrated the circumstances surrounding the prosecution of the cross-dresser.
After the review of the facts of the case, EFCC counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, prayed the court to convict the cross-dresser.
According to EFCC, Bobrisky committed the offences at Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki in Lagos State on March 24.
The anti-graft agency stated that Bobrisky tampered with the cumulative sum of N400,000 while dancing during a social event by spraying the currency.
He also sprayed various tranches of money such as N20,000 and N50,000 at various events in 2022 and 2023, according to EFCC.
The offences, EFCC said, contravene Section 21(1) Central Bank Act of 2007 and Section 19 of the Money Laundering Act of 2022.
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