Breaking: Bobrisky jailed 6 months without fine option

A Federal High Court in Lagos State sentenced convicted crossdresser Idris Okuneye (alias Bobrisky) to six months in prison for abuse of the naira on Friday.

The court did not give the crossdresser the option of a fine.

Bobrisky wasprosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court convicted him on April 5, following his guilty plea, but reserved his sentence until April 9.

The court had ordered Okuneye to be kept in the custody of the EFCC pending sentencing.

However, due to the Federal Government’s declaration of April 9, April 10, and April 11 as public holidays, the case could not proceed as scheduled.

On Friday, Justice Abimbola Awogboro sentenced the convict without the option of a fine.

The judge held thatimprisonment would take effect from the date of the crossdresser’s arrest.

Okuneye was taken away by EFCC operatives immediately after his sentencing.

The EFCC had, on April 4, filed a six-count charge against Okuneye.

The charge bordered on naira mutilation and money laundering.

He was consequently arraigned on April 5, and he pleaded guilty to the first four counts.

The court struck out the last two counts following an application by the EFCC.

On April 5, Mr. Bolaji Temitope, a prosecution witness and Assistant Suprintant of the EFCC, gave evidence before the court and narrated the circumstances surrounding the prosecution of Okuneye.

After reviewing the facts of the case, EFCC counsel, Mr. Suleiman Suleiman, prayed to the court to convict the crossdresser.

According to the EFCC, Okuneyecommitted the offences on March 24 at Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos State.

The commission stated that Okuneye tampered with the cumulative sum of N400,000 while dancing during a social event by spraying it.

Okuneye also sprayed various tranches of money, such as N20,000 and N50,000, at various events in 2022 and 2023, according to the EFCC.

The offences contravene Section 21(1) of the of the Central Bank Act of 2007 and Section 19 of the Money Laundering Act of 2022.