The sentencing of the controversial cross-dresser and social media celebrity, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has been scheduled for April 9, 2024, by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro set this date for the judgment after Bobrisky admitted guilt to a four-count charge of Naira abuse filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Following the guilty plea, the judge ordered that Bobrisky be kept in EFCC custody until the sentencing.
The court session commenced at precisely 11:55 am, with Mr. Sulaiman Sulaiman representing the EFCC and Mr. Ayo Olumofin representing the defendant.
During the proceedings, Justice Awogboro instructed Bobrisky to reveal his face, which was concealed by a black hijab. He complied with the directive.
Initially facing a 6 count charge, the EFCC prosecutor requested the court to dismiss counts five and six, to which the judge agreed. The remaining four counts were then read to the defendant, to which Bobrisky pleaded guilty.
Upon being asked if he understood the charges, Bobrisky affirmed his guilt. The EFCC prosecutor proceeded to present the case’s facts, calling an EFCC Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Bolaji Temitope, as a witness.
At the behest of the prosecution, the witness detailed how he became acquainted with Bobrisky. Temitope recounted that the EFCC had received information about individuals who were engaging in the practice of spraying Naira notes during parties in Lagos. Subsequently, an operational team was dispatched by the EFCC to monitor and observe the activities of those involved in such actions.
The team’s approach involved visiting event venues and scrutinizing social media platforms to identify instances of Naira abuse. Upon discovering videos on social media depicting the defendant engaging in the act of abusing the naira, the team proceeded to record and store the evidence on a CD. An invitation was then extended to the defendant, who acknowledged his presence in the videos shown to him during the meeting.
The defendant admitted to spraying money in various locations, including an event at the Island Circle Mall, Aja Junction in Ikorodu, and an event center in Ikeja. Following this, he provided a written statement to the authorities. The prosecutor presented the statement and videos as evidence, which were accepted by the court without objection from the defense team.
Subsequently, the court admitted the statement and videos as Exhibits 1 and 2, respectively. The prosecution then urged the judge to convict the defendant as charged, leading to a ruling by Justice Awogboro that found the defendant guilty. Despite pleading for mercy and citing ignorance of the law, Bobrisky was informed by the judge that lack of awareness of the law was not a valid defense.
Bobrisky expressed a desire to utilize his social media platform to educate his followers about the legal implications of abusing the naira. As a social media influencer with a substantial following, he proposed creating a video to raise awareness about the issue.
