- By Halimah Olamide
Cross-dresser and social media influencer, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye popularly called Bobrisky will be dragged to court on Friday over allegations bordering on abuse of the Nigerian currency, the Naira.
NPO Reported earlier that Bobrisky had been arrested on Wednesday and was undergoing interrogations at the facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Lagos over abuse of Naira.
Abuse of Naira is a major offense in Nigeria.
Section 21 of the CBN Act makes it a crime to tamper with or deface the Nigerian currency.
Bobrisky had been caught in videos spraying Naira at a recent movie premier in Lagos.
Many celebrities have been found to spray Naira while many others trample on them at social events.
Bobrisky was picked up at Pinnock Estate by officials of the EFCC.
While the first four counts of the charge border on abuse of the Naira, the last two counts border on alleged money laundering.
In the charge sheet filed by EFCC Prosecutor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Rotimi Oyedepo, alongside seven other lawyers, Bobrisky in the first count is alleged to have tampered with the sum of N400,000 by spraying same while dancing at a social event at the IMAX Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos.
The offence was committed on March 24, 2024, and is contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
In count two, Bobrisky between July and August 2023 at Aja Junction, Ikorodu also tampered with another sum of N50,000 by spraying the same at a social event while dancing.
In count three, Bobrisky in Dec. 2023 at White Steve Event Hall, Ikeja also sprayed and tampered with another sum of N20,000 while dancing.
Count four also accused Bobrisky of spraying and tampering with another sum of N20,000 while dancing at another event in Oniru, Victoria Island.
In count five, Bobrisky while trading under the name and style of Bob Express between Sept 1, 2021, and April 4, 2024, in Lagos, failed to submit to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, a declaration of the activities of the said company, (Bob Express), within which period the total sum of N127. 7m was paid into the company account domiciled with Ecobank.
In count six, Bobrisky is also accused of failing to submit a declaration of the activities of the company within the same period when another N53m was paid into the company’s account thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 6(1)(a), and Section 19(1) (f) of the Money Laundering (Prevention And Prohibition) Act and punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act.