Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky, has been convicted following his guilty plea to charges of Naira abuse before Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.
In his allocutus, the controversial cross-dresser pleaded for leniency and told the judge that he has over five million followers on the social media and would use that to educate Nigerians on the need to respect Nigeria’s national currency.
His lawyer, Ayo Olumofin pleaded that he is a first offender and has learnt his lessons.
He then applied for non-custodial sentencing because the punishment is not less than six months or not less than N50,000 fine or both.
The court went for a brief recess and returned by 1.30pm and said: “the judgement of the court in this case is reserved until the 9th day of April 2024.
“The defendant shall remain in EFCC custody until the date of judgement.”
Bobrisky was nabbed on Wednesday April 3, 2024 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC which then filed a six count charge of abuse of Naira and money laundering against him.
But before the charges were read to Bobrisky today, the defendant’s lawyer said they were ready to plead guilty to the first four counts.
EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, then prayed the court to strike out counts five and six (Money laundering charges).
Justice Awogboro thereafter struck out counts five and six. Bobrisky was then arraigned on counts one to four.
When he was asked if he understood the charges that were read to him, he said: ” yes, I am guilty.”
When he was asked to give allocutus, he said he was not aware that his actions amounted to an offence under the law.
But the judge reminded him that ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
In the amended charge marked FHC/L/244c/2024, the EFCC listed four counts against the defendant.
COUNT 1
“That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, on the 24th day of March, 2024, at Imax Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the total sum of N400,000 notes by spraying same.
COUNT 2
“That you, OKUNEYE IDRIS OLANREWAJU, between July and August, 2023 at Aja Junction, Ikorodu, whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum N50,000, by spraying same
COUNT 3
“That you, OKUNEYE IDRIS OLANREWAJU, sometimes in December, 2023 at White Stone Event Hall, Ikeja, during a social event tampered with the sum N20,000 by spraying same.
COUNT 4
“That you, OKUNEYE IDRIS OLANREWAJU, sometimes in 2022 at Event Hall, Oniru, Victoria Island, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum N20,000 by spraying same.”
The four counts were said to have contravened Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.
Bobrisky’s ordeal followed a video report of spraying and flaunting wads of new Naira notes at the premiere of a movie, AJAKAJU, produced by Eniola Ajao, a Nollywood actress and producer, at Lekki, Lagos on March 24, 2024 which went viral.
The video was part of the evidence the anti-graft agency tendered in court today.
When he was brought to the court this morning, the cross-dresser covered himself with a veil.
But once in the dock, the judge ordered him to remove the veil.