The convicted crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has admitted to being a male during his appearance at the Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Friday.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro had sentenced him to six months imprisonment without the option of a fine for abusing the naira.
However, before the sentence, the judge asked about his gender, and he quickly replied that he was a man.
When the judge asked, “Are you a man or a woman?” Bobrisky responded, “I am a man.”
Awogboro said the judgment would be a deterrent to others who are found abusing and mutilating the naira.
The judge ruled that the jail term commenced on March 24, 2024, the day of his arrest.
The EFCC had, on April 4, filed a six-count charge against Okuneye.
The charge bordered on Naira mutilation and money laundering.
He was consequently arraigned on April 5 and he pleaded guilty to the first four counts.
The court struck out the last two counts following an application by the EFCC.
On April 5, the court had convicted Bobrisky after he pleaded guilty to the charge of abusing the naira filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The judge therefore postponed the sentencing to Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
Bobrisky had last Friday, after his conviction, pleaded with the court to give him a lesser punishment as he was not aware of the law of abusing the naira.
In his allocutus, he begged the court that he was not aware of the law of abusing the naira.
He said that he is a social media influencer with over five million followers.
The judge then told him that ignorance of the law was not an excuse.
He said, “I know, My Lord. 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 would educate people about spraying money.
” I will not repeat it, My Lord. I regret my actions, My Lord.”
On April 5, Mr Bolaji Temitope, a prosecution witness and Assistant Superintendent of EFCC, gave evidence before the court and narrated the circumstances surrounding prosecution of Okuneye.
After review of the facts of the case, EFCC counsel, Mr Suleiman Suleiman, prayed the court to convict the cross dresser.
According to EFCC, Okuneye committed the offences on March 24, at Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos State.
The commission stated that Okuneye tampered with the cumulative sum of N400,000 while dancing during a social event, by spraying same.
Okuneye also sprayed various tranches of money such as N20,000 and N50,000 at various events in 2022 and 2023, according to EFCC.
The offences contravene Section 21(1) Central Bank Act of 2007 and Section 19 of Money Laundering Act of 2022.
