For being involved in the abuse of the Nigerian currency – naira, controversial cross-dresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment.
He was sent to jail on Friday, April 12, 2024, by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, without an option of a fine.
Delivering judgment, the trial court declared that the verdict would serve as a deterrent to others who are in the habit of abusing and mutilating the naira.
Before slamming her decision, the judge had questioned Bobrisky’s sex status, and of which the cross-dresser confirmed he was a man.
Thereafter, Justice Awogboro ordered that Bobrisky should serve his jail term at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The trial judge equally held that the jail term would commence on March 24, 2024, the day of his arrest.
The charge against Bobrisky read: “That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, on the 24th day of March 2024, at Imax Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the total sum of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.
“That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, between July and August 2023 at Aja Junction, lkorodu, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.
“That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, sometime in December 2023 at White Steve Event Hall, Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum N20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.
“That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, sometime in 2022 at Event Hall, Oniru, Victory Island, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with the sum N20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”
Justice Awogboro had convicted Bobrisky after the controversial cross-dresser pleaded guilty to naira abuse, as slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bobrisky specifically pleaded guilty to the first four counts bordering on Naira abuse.
Before the charge was read to the cross-dresser, the counsel for the anti-graft agency, Suleiman Suleiman, had prayed to the judge to strike out counts five and six which bordered on money laundering allegations, and of which the trial judge acceded.
Upon the striking out of counts five and six, Bobrisky was consequently arraigned only on counts one to four, which is on the abuse of the naira.
In his allocutus, Bobrisky told the court that he was not aware of the law on abusing the naira, adding that he is a social media influencer with over five million followers.
Justice Awogboro then declared to the convicted Bobrisky that ignorance of the law was not an excuse.
Bobrisky had said, “I know, my lord. My lord, I wish that you could give me a second chance to use my platform to inform and educate my followers about spraying money.
“I would do a video on my page and I will educate people about spraying money. I will not repeat it. I regret my actions.”
Bobrisky had earlier been confronted with a six-count charge bordering on naira abuse and money laundering.
According to the earlier charge slammed against Bobrisky by the commission through its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the cross-dresser in the first count is alleged to have on March 24, 2024, tampered with a sum to the tune of N400,000 by spraying same while dancing at a social event at the IMAX Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos, an offence which the EFCC said is contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
On the second count, Bobrisky was alleged to have between July and August 2023 at Aja Junction, Ikorodu, tampered with another sum of N50,000 by spraying the same at a social event while dancing.
The third count indicated that in December 2023, Bobrisky, at White Steve Event Hall, Ikeja sprayed and tampered with another sum of N20,000.00 while dancing.
While count four accused Bobrisky of spraying and tampering with another sum of N20,000.00 while dancing at another event in Oniru, Victoria Island, the fifth count suggested that the cross-dresser, while trading under the name and style of Bob Express between Sept 1, 2021, and April 4, 2024, in Lagos, failed to submit to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, a declaration of the activities of the said company, (Bob Express), within which period the total sum of N127.7m was paid into the company account domiciled with Ecobank.
On the sixth count, Bobrisky is being accused of failing to submit a declaration of the activities of the company within the same period when another N53m was paid into the company’s account, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 6(1)(a), and Section 19(1)(f) of the Money Laundering (Prevention And Prohibition) Act and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.
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