Popular crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, has told the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, April 12, 2024, that he is a man while standing trial for naira abuse.
Punch Metro reported that Bobrisky was arrested on March 24, 2024, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and arraigned on Friday, April 5, 2024, on four charges bordering on mutilation of the Naira notes to the tune of N490,000,00 (Four Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira).
Appearing before Justice Abimbola Awogboro on Friday, April 12, the popular crossdresser was sentenced to six months imprisonment without the option of a fine.
Bobrisky’s ordeal started last month when he was presented the “Best Dressed Female” award at the premiere of the Nollywood movie, “Ajanaku: Beast of Two Worlds,” by Nigerian filmmaker and actress Eniola Ajao.
The announcement caused a stir on social media, with the likes of Toyin Abraham, Portable, and Dayo Amusa, amongst others calling out Bobrisky as well as Ajao, actor Femi Adebayo who announced the award at the premiere.
The controversy was overshadowed by Bobrisky’s social media influencer and crusader, Martins Otse aka VeryDarkMan, who called out the police, senators, and others for turning blind eyes to Okuneye’s public display of him ‘caressing and touching’ a man and narrating how he ‘sleeps with men’ on social media.
“We all know Bobrisky is a man, even though he says he’s transitioned, fine, I’m good. There’s no law against transgender, but Bobrisky coming online, I want to tell you the danger of what [he] does. Let’s not even talk about the law, let’s look at the morals and how it will affect the young generation. Bobrisky, we all know is a man, now transgender, according to him, comes online to come and tell us how he sleeps with a man and how a man pays him for it. He will now display cash, online. Sincerely, for people who think, what do you want the younger generation to think about that act?,” VDM said in a video before his controversial arrest and release by the police.
Punch Metro also recalls that the self-proclaimed ‘Mummy of Lagos’, in January 2024, claimed to have undergone a breast enlargement surgery, broadening the controversy that he has transitioned into a woman.
‘I’m a beautiful girl, tani bro e’
Despite rumours that Bobrisky has transitioned into a woman, Nigerians remain divided about Bobrisky’s gender especially when the crossdresser clapped back at a fan for tagging him as ‘bro’, leading to the viral ‘tani bro e'(who’s your bro).
“Hello guys, good evening to you. This video is for some idiots on my page. I’m going to post a picture and you tell me, you look good bro. Who is your bro? Please, tani bro e? Your bro is in Yaba, collecting treatment. I am a beautiful girl.
“So if I post a picture, and you want to comment, you comment and say, You look beautiful baby girl, pretty woman. Don’t come to my post and tell me, bro. Eyawere ni? Let us learn how to respect ourselves for this Instagram. Or else, we will open our yansh. So, be careful,” Bobrisky posted in 2019.
Watch the video below:
However, following Bobrisky’s sentencing to six months behind bars, the questions about where he would serve his prison time, whether male or female prison, has been settled after admitting he’s a man.
After pleading “guilty” to the charges levelled against him, Bobrisky pleaded for mercy, claiming that he was not aware of the law against naira abuse.
In his plea for mercy, Bobrisky said, “I am a social media influencer, with five million followers; and in all honesty, I was not aware of the law. I wish I could be given a second chance to use my platform to educate my followers against the abuse of the Naira.”
Also, his lawyer had said: “He will lead the crusade against the abuse of Naira. He is also an employer of people; and if he goes to jail, the people he employs will suffer. He has cooperated with the EFCC and has not wasted the time of the court. We urge the court to caution the defendant and allow him to go. He has given evidence that he will be useful to the country. We urge you to grant a non-custodial sentencing option of fine.”
Justice Awogboro held that “ The act of mutilating the Naira notes has become a menace, which has continued to damage the image of the country. “Enough of people mutilating and tampering with our currencies. It has to stop. His will serve as a deterrent to others.” The Judge, therefore, sentenced him to six months imprisonment, without an option of fine, from the date of his remand.
