Controversial Nigerian cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, is not taking his recent legal troubles lying down.
Following his six-month imprisonment sentence by a Federal High Court in Lagos State, Bobrisky has decided to fight back.
Bobrisky’s lawyer filed an appeal on Monday, April 22, challenging the sentence and seeking to replace the jail time with a fine of N50,000 for each of the four counts of naira abuse. The lawyer, Bimbo Kusanu, argued that the trial court’s decision to impose the maximum sentence was unfair, especially considering Bobrisky’s lack of prior criminal convictions and his cooperation with authorities throughout the legal process.
Kusanu pointed out that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) provides for lesser sentences, which the trial court failed to consider. He emphasized that Bobrisky’s positive background and guilty plea should have been taken into account for a more lenient punishment. The lawyer believes that the trial court’s failure to exercise discretion properly has led to a miscarriage of justice against his client.
Furthermore, Kusanu argued that Bobrisky’s prompt response to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invitation and the severity of the sentence do not align with the nature of the offense. Bobrisky had pleaded guilty to the charges of naira abuse before Justice A.O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos, leading to his imprisonment without the option of a fine.
In his sentencing on 12 April, Justice Awogboro emphasized that the judgment against Bobrisky should serve as a warning to others who engage in the abuse and mutilation of the naira. Bobrisky’s appeal will now undergo legal proceedings as he fights to overturn the sentence and clear his name in this legal battle. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
