Idris Okuneye, the cross-dresser widely known as Bobrisky, has been sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos to six months in jail, with no option of a fine. 

Justice Abimbola Awogboro presided over the case, and Okuneye, who has been in custody since his arrest the previous week, was found guilty of a six-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

Two of the charges however, were dropped after Okuneye pleaded to abusing the Nigerian currency, and appealed for leniency as a first-time offender.

In delivering the sentence, Justice Awogboro emphasized the need to deter others from similar offenses, stating that the judgment would serve as a warning to those who tamper with the national currency. The judge specified that the jail term would begin from March 24, 2024, the day of Okuneye’s arrest. 

The court had on April 5, convicted him after he pleaded guilty to a 4 counts charge of abuse of the naira, made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge adjourned to last Thursday for sentencing, but the Federal Government declared the day a public holiday for the Eid-El-Fitri celebration.

The charges against him read: “that you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, on the 24th day of March,2024,at imax Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with| tHe total sum of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable ’ under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.

“That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, between July and August,2023 at Aja Junction, lkorodu, within the jurisdiction af this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum N50, 000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.

“That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, sometimes in December, 2023 at White Steve Event Hall, Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum N20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.

“That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, sometimes in 2022 at Event Hall, Oniru, Victory Island, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum N20, 000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act,2007.”