Controversial cross-dresser Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine for abusing the Nigerian currency, the naira.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, handed down the sentence, emphasizing that the judgment aims to deter others who are inclined to abuse and mutilate the naira.
Prior to the sentencing, the judge inquired about Bobrisky’s gender, to which he promptly replied that he identifies as a man. Consequently, he was ordered to serve his jail term at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The judge specified that the six-month jail term would commence on March 24, 2024, the day of Bobrisky’s arrest.
The court had earlier convicted Bobrisky on April 5 after he pleaded guilty to four counts of abusing the naira, as charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge initially scheduled April 18 for sentencing, but it was later adjourned due to the Federal Government’s declaration of a public holiday for the Eid-El-Fitri celebration.
The counts against him 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, sometimes 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, sometimes 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.”
