By Chinasaokwu Helen okoro
Controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, will, on August 5, 2024, regain freedom from the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, after spending six months in incarceration for abusing the naira by spraying it at parties.
This was disclosed to our correspondent by an impeccable prison source and confirmed by Bobrisky’s lawyer, Ayo Olumofin, on Tuesday.
“Bobrisky will be released on Monday, August 5,” the prison source, who preferred anonymity because he cannot speak officially, told our correspondent.
Confirming the development, Olumofin, who appeared in court for Bobrisky, said, “Yes, it’s about that time for him to be released. There is nothing specific that would be done during his release. I might not go. I’m engaged outside Lagos. Maybe other lawyers will go.
As I told you, I am not his original lawyer. I just did allocution, for him.”
Bobrisky was sentenced to six months imprisonment on April 12, 2024, without an option of fine by Justice Abimbola Awogboro, who has now been elevated to the Court of Appeal.
Though Bobrisky filed an appeal to challenge his conviction, it is unlikely the appeal would be heard before the expiration of his six-month jail term on August 5.
According to an impeccable source at the correctional centre, Bobrisky is due for release from prison on Monday, August 5, 2024.
Bobrisky was arraigned on April 5, 2024, on four counts of naira abuse preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC prosecution counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, told the court that Bobrisky committed the offence on March 24, 2024, at IMAX Circle Mall, Jakande Lekki.
He said Bobrisky, while dancing at a social event, tempered with the sum of N400,000, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the same.
Suleiman also told the court that between July and August 2023, at Ajah Junction, Ikorodu, while dancing at a social event, Bobrisky tampered with the sum of N50,000, by spraying the same.
The EFCC also said sometime in December 2023, Bobrisky, while dancing at the White Steve event hall, Ikeja tampered with N20,000 by spraying the same.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Section 21 (1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
When the charges were read to Bobrisky, and asked if he understood the charges, he said, “Yes, I’m guilty.”
The EFCC subsequently applied to review the case by adducing evidence to back the counts,
An EFCC operative, Bolaji Temitope, while reviewing the facts of the case, told the court that: “Based on a special operation to monitor who is in the habit of spraying money at a party, the team visited many event centres and monitored social media pages where naira was being abused.
“During the course of the monitoring, the commission came across a video on social media where the defendant was seen spraying naira notes on Segun Johnson, at a movie premiere.
“The defendant also admitted that he was the one in the other videos spraying of naira at Aja Junction, Ikorodu and the other places.”
After listening to the facts of the case, Justice Awogboro said, “Upon the admittance of guilt by the defendant and the review of facts you are hereby found guilty as charged.”
In his allocution, Bobrisky, who fondly calls himself “Mummy of Lagos,” said, “I am a social media influencer with over five million followers. My Lord, in all honestly, I was not aware of the naira law.”
When the judge told him that ignorance of the law was not an excuse, Bobrisky said, “I know, My Lord. I wish that you could give me a second chance to use my platform to inform and educate my followers about spraying money.
“I would do a video on my page and I will educate people about spraying money. I will not repeat this, My Lord. I regret my actions, My Lord.”
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