*Identifies Self As Male
THE Federal High Court in Lagos, on Friday, April 12, sentenced convicted cross-dresser, Idris Olarewaju Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, to six months in prison for abuse of the Naira.
The court did not give the controversial cross-dresser an option of fine.
Okuneye was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was convicted by the court on April 5, following his guilty plea.
But Justice Abimbola Awogboro reserved sentence until April 9, but the case could not proceed as scheduled due to Federal Government’s declaration of April 9, April 10 and April 11 as public holiday to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr.
The court had ordered Okuneye to be kept in the custody of the EFCC, pending sentencing.
On Friday, Justice Awogboro, while sentencing the convict without an option of fine, held that imprisonment will take effect from the date of his arrest.
Okuneye was immediately taken away after his sentencing by operatives of the EFCC.
Shortly before he was sentenced, Bobrisky confirmed his gender as male when the Judge asked him of his sex, quickly replying that he is a man.
Bobrisky is famous on the Internet for identifying as a transgender woman, gaining popularity for his bold and flamboyant style, makeup tutorials and controversial statements on various social issues.
Bobrisky openly embraced his identity and has been vocal about his experiences navigating gender identity in Nigeria.
Indeed, against the tide, he was recently crowned the Best Dressed Woman at an event in Lagos, the backlash of which may have kindled his prosecution.
The EFCC had, on April 4, filed a six-count charge against him, bordering on Naira mutilation and money laundering.
He was consequently arraigned on April 5 and he pleaded guilty to the first four counts, while the court struck out the last two counts following an application by the EFCC.
On April 5, a prosecution witness and Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, Mr. Bolaji Temitope, gave evidence before the court, narrating the circumstances surrounding Okuneye’s prosecution.
After review of the facts of the case, EFCC Counsel, Mr. Suleiman Suleiman, prayed the court to convict the cross-dresser, who allegedly committed the offences on March 24, this year, at Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos State.
The Commission alleged that Okuneye tampered with the cumulative sum of N400,000 while dancing during a social event by spraying same.
Okuneye also allegedly sprayed various tranches of money, such as N20,000 and N50,000, at various events in 2022 and last year.
The offences contravene Section 21(1) Central Bank Act of 2007 and Section 19 of Money Laundering Act of 2022.
