A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday, April 5, 2024, had convicted popular Nigerian cross dresser, Idris Okuneye, a.k.a Bobrisky, for mutilation of of the Nigerian Naira notes.

Bob Risky was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The ‘Trial Judge’, Justice Abimbola Awogboro convicted the Bobrisky following his plea of being guilty to the charge filed against him by the EFCC.

Meanwhile, the court had reserved till April 9, 2024, to sentence the Bobrisky(convict) and ordered that he should be kept in custody of the EFCC.

EFCC had on Thursday, April 4, 2024, filed a six-count charge against Bobrisky, but eventually was arranged him in court on Friday, April 5, 2024.

According to the charge against Bobrisky, counts ‘one to four’ concern alleged tampering with naira notes, while counts five and six concern money laundering.

When the case was called in the court, the prosecutor counsel,  Mr. Suleiman  Suleiman told the court that going by the outcome of an open discussion, Bobrisky agreed to plead guilty to the charges against him.

He also made an oral application for counts ‘five and six’ to be struck out, leaving counts one to four.

The court consequently struck out counts ‘five and six’ as orally applied for.

When the remaining counts were read to the Bobrisky (defendant), he pleaded guilty to them.

Sequel to his plea, the prosecutor called on the investigating police officer to give a brief review of the case as the prosecution witness.

The witness, Mr. Bolaji Temitope of the EFCC, said that during investigation, the team came about a video where the defendant was seen mutilating the Nigerian Naira notes.

He said that the videos were downloaded and copied on a Compact Disc (CD) while a letter of invitation was sent to the defendant.

According to him, the defendant honoured the invitation and when he arrived the EFCC office, he was cautioned and then he volunteered a statement.

The witness told the court that the defendant was then shown a video where he was spraying money on an artiste called ‘Segun Johnson’, adding that the defendant  admitted that he was the person in the video.

He said that the defendant was also shown a video of him at Circle Mall Lekki, Lagos, where he sprayed the sum of N400,000 at a movie premier, and that the defendant again admitted same.

He told the court that the defendant was also shown two videos of him spraying money at Ajah and Ikorodu  junction  in Lagos, and the defendant  still admitted same.

At this point, the prosecutor showed the witness the CD containing the videos as well as statement of the defendant and certificate of identification.

The witness confirmed  same to the court, and there was no objection from the defense.

Mr Ayo Olumofin appeared for defense counsel.

The court admitted same and marked them exhibit A, B1 and B2.

The prosecutor, then urged the court to convict the Bobrisky (defendant) as charged, based on the case as presented by the EFCC.

The court consequently, found the defendant guilty of the offence as charged – and accordingly convicted him.

In his plea for mercy, Bobrisky (defendant) told the court that he is a social media influencer with five million followers.

He said: “In all honesty, I was not aware of the law; my lord, I wish I can be given a second chance to use my platform to educate my followers about spraying the naira.”

“I will do a video on my page and educate those who do not know like myself, about spraying of the Naira; I regret my action,” he added.

On his part. defense counsel begged for a non custodial sentence for the defendant.

The court then rose briefly after the allocutus by defence.

When the court resumed, the judge reserved sentencing until April 9, and ordered that Bobrisky should be kept in EFCC custody till the slated date of judgment.