Nigeria: The celebrity transgender personality Idris Okuneye, popularly known as ‘Bobrisky’ has been put behind bars for six months for spraying naira banknotes (Nigerian currency) at the premiere of a film.
Reportedly, the judgement was delivered on April 12, 2024, that followed the confession of crossdresser Bobrisky, in relation to naira abuse.
Following the case, the Federal High Court Judge – Justice Abimbola Awogboro stated that Bobrisky must serve his sentence in a male prison as he has not been given the option of paying a fine.
As per the sources, throwing money in the air is a sign of appreciation commonly done at Nigerian weddings and celebrations. Technically it is considered as an offence as the notes then fall to the ground where they can be trodden on.
Nigerian rights groups are not happy as they made the statement that LGBTQ people face harassment and discrimination in Nigeria.
Highlighting upon such cases, in February 2024 a CIS-gender, heterosexual actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin was also sentenced for the same offence.
During the trial conduct, crossdresser Bobrisky said that he hadn’t been aware of the ban and until now it has been very rare for people to be prosecuted for this.
Moreover, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that many Nigerian celebrities are suspected to be involved in the abuse of the naira, are under investigation now.
Considering this, EFCC stated that it had been inundated with video recordings showing blatant abuse of the naira by some Nigerians from all walks of life.
The commission confirmed that the investigation of the case involving Bobrisky and celebrities is still going on, as it concerns the currency abuse, adding that some suspects had provided useful information to investigators.
EFCC has acknowledged the public for calling attention towards the old videos of the naira abuse and said that the new videos of such infractions will be investigated and prosecuted.
Recently, Bobrisky was awarded as the Best Dressed Female at the premiere of a movie named ‘Ajanaku: Beast of Two Worlds’, organised on Sunday, March 25, 2024 in Lagos.