Bobrisky has been charged with misusing Nigerian currency notes by spraying them with a solution
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has granted administrative bail to popular cross-dresser,Idris Okuneye also known as Bobrisky, a few hours after his detention for allegedly spray-painting naira notes.
The self-described crossdresser and transgender person was taken into custody in Lagos on Wednesday night.
Bobrisky was charged with misusing the naira notes by dousing them with a solution.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, said the crossdresser has been granted bail but she is yet to met the conditions.
“Yes. He has been granted administrative bail. Normally when you take in a suspect lawfully, there are some thresholds as to the number of days he can be held in custody,” Oyewale said.
“So, we are only complying with the law. We have offered him administrative bail. He has not met the bail conditions. If he meets the bail conditions today he will go home.”
However, the EFCC said it will on Friday, 5 April, arraign the popular cross-dresser at the Federal High Court (FHC) in Lagos over naira abuse and failure to declare his firm’s activities involving the sum of N180.7million.
The anti-graft agency filed the charge against the social media celebrity on Thursday, April 4, 2024, through Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Rotimi Oyedepo.
It followed a statement on Thursday by the commission announcing Bobrisky’s arrest a day earlier for alleged Naira abuse.
In the charge marked FHC/L/244c/2024, the EFCC listed six counts against the defendant.
In the first four counts, the defendant was accused of naira abuse. While the 5th and 6th counts accused him of offences connected with his company, Bob Express.
The six counts read in part: “That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, on the 24th day of March, 2024, at Imax Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the total sum of N400,000 notes by spraying same.
“That you, OKUNEYE IDRIS OLANREWAJU, between July and August, 2023 at Aja Junction, Ikorodu, whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum N50,000, by spraying same
“That you, OKUNEYE IDRIS OLANREWAJU, sometimes in December, 2023 at White Stone Event Hall, Ikeja, during a social event tampered with the sum N20,000 by spraying same.
“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 by spraying same…”
The four counts were said to have contravene Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.
Counts 5 and 6 read: “That you OKUNEYE IDRIS OLANREWAJU trading under the name and style of BOB EXPRESS, between 1st September, 2021 to 4th April, 2024 in Lagos, failed to submit to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering a declaration of your activities of the said company within which period the total sum of N127,780,877.98 was paid into the company’s account number 2830002929, domiciled in Ecobank Plc….
“That you, OKUNEYE IDRIS OLANREWAJU trading under the name and style of BOB EXPRESS between 1st September, 2021 to 4th April, 2024 in Lagos, failed to submit to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering a declaration of your activities of the said company within which period the total sum of N53,000,000 was paid into the company’s account number 2830016041, domiciled in Ecobank Plc…”
Both alleged offences contravened sections 6(1)(a), 19(1)(f) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and section 19 (2)(b) of the same Act.
The EFCC arrested and detained the controversial cross-dresser, in Lagos on Wednesday night.
In a statement titled “EFCC Grills Bobrisky for Naira Abuse” posted on its social media handle later, the EFCC wrote, “Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigation of Idris Okuneye, a.k.a Bobrisky, for allegedly spraying Naira notes.
The EFCC had invited the 31-year old following a video report of spraying and flaunting wads of new Naira notes at the premiere of a movie, Ajakaju, produced by Eniola Ajao, a Nollywood actress and producer, at Film One Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos on March 24, 2024.
Born Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, the social media celebrity has always been in the news for controversial reasons.
She claimed to be Nigeria’s first transgender and once admitted to having severed her genitals.
Bobrisky had in 2020 revealed that she opted for crossdressing to make ends meet after 25 years of being a man.
In September 2021, the social media celebrity also talked about some of the perks she enjoys being a “woman”.
