Popular cross-dresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, has been found guilty by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Bobrisky admitted to misusing the Nigerian currency, the naira.
Before his conviction, Bobrisky told the court he didn’t know misusing the Naira was against the law.
However, the judge reminded him that not knowing the law doesn’t excuse breaking it. Bobrisky acknowledged this and expressed regret for his actions.
He asked the judge for a chance to use his social media platform to educate his followers about proper money use.
Bobrisky has over five million followers and has promised to create a video to teach them about responsible money handling.
He said, “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’m a social media influencer with over five million followers. I would do a video on my page and I would educate people about spraying money. I will not repeat it again, my lord. I regret my actions, my lord.”
The judge postponed Bobrisky’s sentencing until April 9 and ordered him to stay in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bobrisky could face six months in jail, a fine of N50,000, or both for his conviction under the CBN Act 2007.
During the court proceedings, Bobrisky admitted to misusing money at different events.
The charges against him include spraying and tampering with various amounts of Naira on different occasions in Lagos.
The EFCC also accused Bobrisky of money laundering, but two counts related to this were dropped during the court session.
In detail, count one alleges that Bobrisky sprayed and tampered with N400,000 while dancing at a social event held at the IMAX Circle Mall in Lekki, Lagos.
In the second count, it is claimed that Bobrisky also tampered with N50,000 by spraying it during a social event at Aja Junction, Ikorodu, between July and August 2023.
Count three accuses Bobrisky of spraying and tampering with N20,000 at the White Steve Event Hall in Ikeja, Lagos, in December 2023.
The fourth count states that Bobrisky sprayed and tampered with N20,000 while dancing at another event in Oniru, Victoria Island.
In the fifth count, Bobrisky, operating under the name Bob Express between September 1, 2021, and April 4, 2024, in Lagos, allegedly failed to declare the activities of the company to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering.
During this period, N127.7 million was deposited into the company’s Ecobank account.
In the sixth count, Bobrisky is accused of again failing to declare the company’s activities during the same period, despite another N53 million being deposited into the company’s account, violating sections of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
News About Nigeria earlier reported that Bobrisky was brought to court by EFCC officials on Friday morning. He was arrested two days earlier.
