The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Nigerian transgender Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, to a firm six months in prison without the chance of a fine.
Following Bobrisky’s guilty plea to a four-count charge of Naira misuse brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the court presided over by Justice Abimbola Awogboro rendered the verdict.
The self-described “Mummy of Lagos,” who has gained reputation for his contentious behavior, has been detained by the EFCC since his arrest last week on charges of Naira Mutilation, which is a crime in Nigeria.
The case against Bobrisky, with the file number FHC/L/244c/2024, was brought by Nigeria’s law enforcement agency, EFCC. It included two allegations of alleged money laundering and four charges of naira misuse.
However, the prosecution, Sulaiman Sulaiman, sought for the court to strike out charges five and six pertaining to alleged money laundering and arraign Bobrisky on counts one through four prior to it being read to the defendant (Bobrisky).
“We have an agreement with the defendant which will lead us to withdraw counts 5 and 6. In this circumstance, we humbly urge the court to strike out counts 5 and 6. Leaving count 1 to 4 alive,” Mr Sulaiman said.
After answering his prayer, Mr. Awogboro, the judge, struck out the first two charges and directed that the defendant be read the now-four-count accusation.
Bobrisky was then told by Mr. Awogboro to reveal his face, which was hidden behind a black scarf. He obeyed.
Bobrisky entered a guilty plea to all four charges.
“Yes, I am guilty,” he said when the registrar asked if he understood the charge read to him.
On April 4, the EFCC declared that Bobrisky had been arrested for misusing naira.
Read also:Bobrisky pleads guilty as court strikes out money laundering charges
The commission stated that Bobrisky was detained on Wednesday at its zonal office in Lagos after accepting an invitation to be questioned.
It went on to say that the 31-year-old was invited after a widely shared video footage appeared on the internet of her spray-painting and flaunting wads of brand-new naira notes during the ‘Ajakaju’ movie launch on March 24.
Nollywood actress and producer Eniola Ajao produced the film at Film One Circle Mall in Lekki, Lagos.
As to the commission’s statement, Bobrisky offered to provide a statement when EFCC operatives were questioning him.
“Investigation also revealed that he had also committed the alleged offence at some other event centres and parties at different times.
“Following the invitation by the Commission, he arrived at the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC in the morning of Wednesday, 4 April 2024 for interrogation and volunteered his statements,” the statement by EFCC’s Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, stated.
