Internet personality and crossdresser, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, popularly known as Bobrisky, has filed a notice of appeal against his recent conviction for Naira abuse.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) brought four charges of naira abuse and mutilation against Bobrisky. He then pleaded guilty before Justice A.O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos. On April 12th, 2024, Justice Awogboro sentenced Idris to six months of imprisonment without the option of a fine.
The crossdresser has appealed to the court, seeking to replace the maximum sentence imposed on him with a penalty of a ₦50,000 fine for each count.
In the appeal, filed by his lawyer Bimbo Kusanu before the court, Bobrisky argues that the “earned trial judge erred in law and in facts by his imposition of the maximum sentence of months imprisonment terms against the appellant without option of fine, contrary to the provisions of Section 416(2) d of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015 (“ADCJA”) that prescribed the mandatory guidelines on the trial court on the imposition of sentencing after criminal conviction of a first-time offender as the appellant.”.
Bobrisky is seeking an “order setting aside the 6-month maximum imprisonment sentence imposed on the appellant and, in its place, imposition of a fine in the sum of ₦50,000 (Fify Thousand Naira) on each of the counts against the appellant.”.
Social media influencer and Internet personality, VeryDarkMan, has released a diss track for Bobrisky after news broke out confirming Bobrisky is a man.
On April 15th, the officials of the Nigerian Correction Services (NCoS) said Bobrisky underwent screening, which proved his male genitals were still intact. According to them, Bobrisky is treated like any other male inmate.
“After a thorough examination, it was revealed there was no evidence of gender or genital organ realignment. Bobrisky’s male biological characteristics remained unchanged”—The Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).
After this revelation, VeryDarkMan took to his Instagram page to diss Bobrisky, saying that after Bobrisky paraded himself as a woman, he is still a man.
In a conversation with Punch, a source explained his condition:
“After that, a cell was allocated to him, and he had a certain number of inmates with him. A bed space was also allotted to him. It is just like a boarding house where your housemaster will issue you your personal belongings. When it is time for class, he attends. When it is time for food, he will go and get his portion. The same goes with prep and light out. He observes all these without preference. He has been going about his business just like other inmates since he was brought in here”
The source explained that he will not be getting any preferential treatment: “He is not getting any five-star treatment and is not being protected from anybody. He follows the same rules and regulations just like every other inmate. Single cells of isolation cells are to prevent outbreaks of communicable diseases. In a male prison, homosexuality is outlawed and it is a grievous offence. Sodomy or homosexuality, is frowned upon here in the custodial centre. So any inmate that tries to violate him will face the law.”
The Nigerian Federal High Court has postponed the judgement of internet personality Bobrisky due to the Sallah holiday
Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, was brought to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Abimbola Awogboro on six counts, including naira abuse and money laundering.
Bobrisky pleaded guilty to the first four charges of Naira abuse, which were filed against him by the EFCC on April 5, 2024, as the court had earlier struck out the last two counts. His sentencing was postponed until today, April 9, 2024.
Today being the celebration of Sallah, celebrated by Muslims, the Federal Government has declared Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday as public holidays, making it impossible to pass the judgement. A new date is expected to be communicated by the court.
Bolaji Temitope, an Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, gave the evidence and narrated the circumstances surrounding the prosecution of Bobrisky.
The convict committed the offence at Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos State, on March 24th. The EFCC claimed Bobnrisky tampered with the sum of ₦400,000 while dancing during a social event by spraying. EFCC claimed Bobrisky had been spraying money at various events between 2022 and 2023, with money ranging from ₦20,000 to ₦50,000.
