Bobrisky trial begins, arrives Lagos court

Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, is a controversial cross-dresser who has gained notoriety.

On Friday, he showed up before the Federal High Court in Lagos to be charged with money laundering and abusing the naira.

Six accusations of money laundering and unlawful management of national currency were brought against Bobrisky by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bobrisky is expected to enter his plea before Justice Abimbola Awogboro, the vacation judge overseeing the case.

Bobrisky was unable to comply with the terms of the administrative bail that was granted to him on Thursday after spending the entire night in EFCC custody since Wednesday.

Naira abuse was the charge against the defendant in the first four counts. On the other hand, he was charged with crimes relating to Bob Express, his company, in the fifth and sixth charges.

Part of the six counts reads, “That on March 24, 2024, at Imax Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, while dancing during a social event, you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, tampered with the total sum of N400,000 notes by spraying same.”

“That you, Idris Okuneye, between July and August 2023 at Aga Junction, Ikorodu, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with the sum of N50,000, by spraying same.

“That you, Idris Okuneye, sometime in December 2023 at White Steve Event Hall, Ikeja, during a social event, tampered with the sum of N20,000 by spraying same.

“That you, Idris Okuneye, sometimes in 2022 at Event Hall, Oniru, Victory Island, within the jurisdiction of this court whilst dancing during a social event tampered with the sum of N20,000 by spraying same.”

The four counts were said to have contravened Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Act, 2007.

Counts 5 and 6 read: “That you, Idris Okuneye, trading under the name and style of Bob Express, between September 1, 2021, to April 4, 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 Eco Bank Plc.

“That you, Idris Okuneye, trading under the name and style of Bob Express between September 1, 2021 to April 4, 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 Eco Bank 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.