THE Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed Tuesday, April 9, to sentence controversial cross-dresser and social media celebrity, Idris Okuneye, popular as Bobrisky.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro, while convicting Okuneye on Friday, April 5, following a six-count bordering on Naira abuse and money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Okuneye had earlier pleaded guilty to the first four charges bordering on Naira abuse, following which the court reserved sentence until April 9 and ordered that he be remanded in custody of the EFCC till then.
The case was called at exactly 11:55am, with Sulaiman Sulaiman announcing appearing for the EFCC, while Ayo Olumofin represented the defendant.
Justice Awogboro then directed Okuneye to unveil his face, which was covered with a black hijab, to which he complied.
But before the charges were 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 five and six.
In the circumstance, we’re humbly urging the court to strike out counts 5 and 6, leaving counts one to four alive.”
When the registrar asked if he understood the charge that was read to him, he said: ” Yes, I am guilty.”
When the case was called, the prosecutor, Suleiman Suleiman, told the court that following a discussion earlier, the defendant agreed to plead guilty to the charge.
He consequently applied for counts five and six to be struck out, leaving counts one to four.
The court accordingly struck out counts five and six.
The defendant was represented by Ayo Olumofin.
In the struck out counts, the EFCC had alleged that the defendant, trading under the name and style of BobExpress, between September 1, 2021 and April 4,this year, also failed to submit to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, a declaration of the activities of his company.
According to the EFCC, within the said period, the sum of N128million was paid into the company’s account.
It also said that within same period, the defendant failed to submit a declaration to the unit, of his company, where the sum of N53million was paid.
The offences contravene the provisions of Sections 21(1) Central Bank Act 2007 and 19 Money Laundering Act 2022.
When the remaining counts was read to Okuneye, he pleaded guilty to same. Thereafter, the prosecutor called on the investigating Police officer to give a brief review of the case as its prosecution witness.
The witness, Bolaji Temitope, an assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told the court that during investigation, his team came about a video where the defendant was seen mutilating Naira notes.
Temitope stated that the videos were downloaded and copied on a Compact Disc (CD), while a letter of invitation was sent to the defendant, which he honoured and when he arrived the EFCC office, he was cautioned and he then volunteered a statement.
The witness told the court that the defendant was then shown a video where he was spraying money on an artiste called Segun Johnson and he confessed and admitted that he was the person in the video.
He said that the defendant was also shown a video of him at Circle Mall Lekki, where he sprayed a total sum of N400,000 at a movie premier, to which he also admitted.
Temitope told the court that the defendant was also shown two videos of him spraying money at Ajah and Ikorodu junction in Lagos, and the defendant equally admitted same.
At this point, the prosecutor showed the witness the CD containing the videos and the statement of the defendant and certificate of identification.
He stated: Temitope said: “The EFCC received intelligence of individuals who are in the habit of spraying Naira during parties in Lagos. Based 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 N400,000 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 witness confirmed same to the court, and there was no objection from the defence.
The court consequently admitted same and marked them as Exhibits A, B1 and B2.
The prosecutor then urged the court to convict the defendant as charged based on the case as presented by the EFCC.
The court consequently found Okuneye guilty of the offence as charged and accordingly convicted him.
In his plea for mercy, the defendant told the court that he is a social media influencer with five million followers, adding: “In all honesty, I was not aware of the law.
“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.”
On his part, his Counsel added that he (Okuneye) had turned a new leaf and pleaded with the Judge to grant Okuneye a non-custodial sentence and an option of a fine.
The Judge then told him that ignorance of the law was not an excuse. The court then rose briefly after the allocutus by defence.
When the court resumed, the Judge reserved judgment until April 9 and ordered that Okuneye be remanded in EFCC custody, pending judgment.
Okuneye was arrested on Thursday by the anti-graft agency in connection with the offence said to have been committed on March 24 at Circle Mall, Jakande in the Lekki area of Lagos.
The EFCC said he tampered with the cumulative sum of N400,000, as well as spraying naira notes in various tranches, such as N20,000 and N50,000, while dancing at various events between 2022 and last year.
With the conviction, Okuneye could faces six months imprisonment or a fine of N50,000 or both.
Section 21 (1) of the CBN Act 2007 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 that N50,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment.”
