Fair Sentence or Not ? – Bobrisky to serve 6-month jail term in male prison for abuse of the Naira

By Rasak Okunewe

A Federal High Court in Lagos State, Nigeria on Friday, sentenced and convicted cross dresser, Idris Okuneye (alias Bobrisky), to six months in prison for abuse of the Naira. The court did not give the cross dresser an option of fine.

Bobrisky was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria. The court convicted him on April 5, following his guilty plea, but reserved sentence until April 9. The court had ordered Okuneye to be kept in the custody of the EFCC pending sentencing.

The Popular Nigerian crossdresser, Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison for abusing and tampering with the Naira by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

In the West African country’s laws, a person who tampers with the Naira note or coin is guilty of an offence, punishable by law.

Vanguard Nigeria reported that the crossdresser, born Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, was not given an option of a fine during the sentencing on Friday, April 12.

According to the judge, Justice Abimbola Awogboro, this is to set an example and deter other people from damaging the currency in any way or form going forward.

Meanwhile, Bobrisky’s jail term commences from the day of his arrest, March 24, 2024.

Also, the crossdresser who over the past few years has insisted on being called a woman, is expected to spend his time in the men’s prison.

He reportedly told the judge he is a man when asked about his gender before sentencing.

Background

Bobrisky was arrested after a video surfaced showing him spraying wads of cash at the premiere of Eniola Ajao’s ‘Beasts of Two Worlds’ movie on March 24, 2024.

Following Bobrisky’s arrest, the EFCC revealed that aside from the March 24 incident, their investigation found that Bobrisky had tampered with the naira on several occasions in 2023.

The influencer was also charged with two counts of money laundering. According to the agency, the crossdresser failed to report to appropriate institutions the activities of a company he established called the Bob Express.

Bobrisky was brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge, four of which pertained to abusing the Naira and two to money laundering following his arrest. However, two of the charges of money laundering were dropped.

Bobrisky was convicted by the Federal High Court in Lagos after pleading guilty to charges related to the abuse of the Naira.

According to a report by the newspaper, Punch Nigeria on Friday, April 5, the social media influencer told the court he was unaware that tampering with the Naira note or coin is an offence punishable by law.

Bobrisky told the court he was remorseful; adding that should he be given a second chance; he would take the opportunity to educate his followers against spraying money.

He also promised to upload a video on the subject matter and never to repeat the mistake.

However, due to Federal Government’s declaration of April 9, April 10 and April 11 public holiday, the case could not proceed as scheduled.

On Friday, Justice Abimbola Awogboro sentenced the convict without an option of fine. The judge held that imprisonment would take effect from the date of the cross-dresser’s arrest. Okuneye was taken away by EFCC operatives immediately after his sentencing.

The EFCC had, on April 4, filed a six-count charge against Okuneye. 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.

Bobrisky, known for his open discussion of gender transition online, stated his identity as male during court proceedings, which led to the decision to place him in a male-designated facility. “Since he admitted to being a male in court, then we have to abide by what was submitted in court,” a spokesperson for the correctional service in Lagos said.

Despite concerns about his safety related to his gender preference, correctional officers have assured that Bobrisky will receive adequate protection from potential harm. “He shouldn’t be afraid of sexual assault from other male inmates because our men can give him protection,” the spokesperson stated, addressing worries about his vulnerability.

So now the Nigerian transgender who mostly professes to be female now tells the court that he is male. Interesting…

And apart from that, some Africans are known to spray wads of cash often at public events from time to time, so in your opinion was this six-month prison sentence favourable, justifiable and fair ?

Source: www.myjoyonline.com , www.vanguardng.com