A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has found controversial Nigerian cross-dresser and social media celebrity Idris Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky, guilty of all four-count charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The popular crossdresser was on Friday arraigned in court over four-count charges of currency mutilation and abuse of the Naira – a charge to which he pleaded guilty and begged for mercy claiming that he was not aware of the law for which he is being convicted.
While the court held that ignorance is not an excuse before the law, the presiding judge, Justice Abimbola Awogboro found Bobrisky whose face was initially veiled in black hijab, guilty of all charges citing Section 21 (1) of the CBN Act 2007 which states that “a person who tampers with a coin or note issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable for imprisonment for a term not less that six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment.”
The judge however reserved the date for his judgment and fixed April 9, 2024, to sentence the controversial cross-dresser and social media celebrity.
Recall that Bobrisky was on Wednesday, arrested by men of the EFCC after receiving intelligence and evidence of his alleged usual acts of abusing the Naira by spraying lots of cash at public events.
Upon his arrest, the popular crossdresser remained in custody of the anti-graft agency until his arraignment in court on Friday 5th April, 2023 where he eventually pleaded guilty and is now awaiting judgement.
Meanwhile, the court has also maintained that the convict be remanded in EFCC custody pending sentence.
Afropami also gathered that the EFCC was represented in court by Mr. Sulaiman Sulaiman while Mr. Ayo Olumofin represented the defendant in the case which was called at exactly 11:55am.
Also, it was gathered that he EFCC had previously filed 6 count charge against Bobrisky and while the first 4 counts of the charge bordered on abuse of the Naira, the last two counts bordered on alleged money laundering.
But before the charge was read to the defendant, the EFCC prosecutor, Sulaiman asked the court to strike out counts five and six.
He said, “We have an agreement with the defendant which will lead us to withdraw counts 5 and 6. In the circumstance, we’re humbly urging the court to strike out counts 5 and 6, leaving counts 1 to 4 alive”.
Justice Awogboro granted his request and subsequently struck out the two counts and ordered that the four-count charge be read to the defendant which he pleaded guilty to all four counts and agreed that he understood the charge that was read to him when he was asked by the registrar.
Given an account, an EFCC Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Bolaji Temitope who was called as witness by the EFCC prosecutor who sought to review the facts of the case said:
“The EFCC received intelligence of individuals who are in the habit of spraying Naira during parties in Lagos. Base on this, the EFCC sent out an operation team to monitor and observe the activities of individuals who are in the habit of doing so.
“We usually visit event centres and monitor social media pages to determine where the Naira is being abused.
“During the exercise we came across videos on social media where the defendant was seen abusing the Naira.
“Our team then proceeded to view the video and burn same on CD.
“Consequently, an invitation letter was forwarded to the defendant. When he honoured the invitation. The defendant was shown a video where he was spraying money on Segun Johnson. He confirmed that he was the one in the video.
“An event at the Island circle mall was also shown to the defendant. A total of 400k was spent.
“The defendant was also shown another video in Aja Junction, Ikorodu and an event centre at Ikeja. He admitted spraying money in all the videos.
“He then offered his statement in writing.”
The prosecutor then tendered the statement and videos. There was no objection from the defence team.
The court admitted them as exhibits and marked them Exhibits 1 and 2 respectively.
“That is the case of the prosecution and we pray the defendant be convicted as charged, my lord,” the prosecutor told the judge.
In a bench ruling, Justice Awogboro held: “The defendant is convicted as charged”.
Bobrisky had also reportedly appealed to the judge to give him a second chance to use his platform to create awareness on the crime for which he is being charged.
He said, “My lord I wish that you can give me a second chance to use my platform to inform and educate my followers about spraying money”.
“I’m a social media influencer with over five million followers. I would do a video on my page and I will educate people about spraying money.
“I will not repeat it again my lord, I regret my actions my lord. I’m a first-time offender.”
His lawyer added that he had turned a new leaf and urged the judge to grant Bobrisky a non-custodial sentence and an option of a fine.
With the conviction, Bobrisky could either serve six months in prison, pay a fine of N50,000 or do both.
