Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ibrahim Ramalan
Published on 2024-04-05 14:50:00
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of a Federal High Court in Lagos delivered a guilty verdict against the popular Nigerian cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as “Bobrisky,” for financial abuse. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed charges against Bobrisky for six counts of abuse and money laundering, to which he pleaded guilty.
The court, however, deferred sentencing until April 9 and ordered Bobrisky to be remanded in EFCC custody until that time. During the court proceedings, the prosecutor, Suleiman Suleiman, informed the court that the defendant agreed to plead guilty following discussions. As a result, counts five and six were dismissed, leaving counts one to four for consideration.
Ayo Olumofin represented the defense, and upon reading the remaining counts to the defendant, he admitted guilt. The court then heard from the investigating police officer, Bolaji Temitope, an assistant superintendent of the EFCC. Temitope revealed that during the investigation, the team uncovered videos of Bobrisky mutilating Naira notes at various events. The defendant was subsequently shown these videos and admitted to his actions.
The witness also presented evidence, including the videos and Bobrisky’s statement, which was confirmed by the court without objection from the defense. The court admitted the evidence and marked them as exhibits A, B1, and B2. The prosecutor urged the court to convict Bobrisky based on the evidence presented by the EFCC, leading to the defendant being found guilty and convicted.
In a plea for mercy, Bobrisky expressed his regret for his actions and requested a chance to educate his followers about the laws regarding Naira abuse. The defense counsel appealed for a non-custodial sentence for the defendant. The judge decided to reserve judgment until April 9 and directed that Bobrisky remain in EFCC custody until the sentencing date.
Following his arrest on Thursday, Bobrisky was accused of tampering with a total of N400,000 during a social event at Circle Mall, Jakande in the Lekki area of Lagos. The EFCC alleged that Bobrisky sprayed various amounts of money at different events between 2022 and 2023, ranging from N20,000 to N50,000. Additionally, the charges included failure to submit a declaration of activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering for his company, BobExpress, resulting in deposits totaling N181 million.
These offences contravene the provisions of the Central Bank Act 2007 and the Money Laundering Act 2022. The court’s decision to convict Bobrisky serves as a warning against financial abuses and underscores the importance of adhering to the laws governing currency usage in Nigeria. The case highlights the consequences of disregarding financial regulations and the duty of social media influencers to educate their followers responsibly.
Read the original article on DailyNigerian.com
