Bobrisky detained in lone cell, faces arraignment today (check charges fee)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will today (Friday) arraign controversial cross-dresser Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, before the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged money laundering.

On Thursday,the EFCC filed six counts bordering on money laundering and abuse of the naira on Bobrisky.

Bobrisky will be arraigned before the vacation judge, Justice Abimbola Awogboro.

In the charge sheet filed by EFCC prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alongside seven other lawyers, Bobrisky, in the first count, was alleged to have tampered with the sum of N400,000 by spraying the same while dancing at a social event at the IMAX Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos.

The commission said the offence was committed on March 24, 2024.

Bobrisky was also alleged to have, between July and August 2023, at Aja Junction, Ikorodu, tampered with another sum of N50,000 by spraying the same at a social event while dancing.

The anti-graft agency said in December 2023 at White Steve Event Hall, Ikeja, Bobrisky also sprayed and tampered with another sum of N20,000 while dancing.

He was further accused of spraying and tampering with another sum of N20,000 while dancing at another event in Oniru, Victoria Island.

The EFCC said that Bobrisky, while trading under the name and style of Bob Express between September 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 N127.7 . million was paid into the company account domiciled with Ecobank.

Bobrisky was  also accused of failing to submit a declaration of the activities of the company within the same period when another N53 million was paid into the company’s account.

According to the EFCC, the offences committed contravened Sections 6(1)(a)  and 19(1)(f) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and were punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.

Bobrisky, who had been in EFCC detention since Wednesday night, failed to meet the administrative bail offered him on Thursday.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the report of his bail and failure to meet the conditions in a telephone interview with our correspondent Thursday evening.

“He has been granted administrative bail but has not yet met bail conditions,” stated Oyewale.

Earlier, Oyewale had noted that “Bobrisky is with us. He was arrested last night in Lagos, and he is at our Lagos command. We arrested him for alleged abuse of naira notes, spraying of nara notes, and currency mutilation, among others.

“We are very serious about restoring the dignity of the naira. Even though our investigation is still ongoing, charges against him will undoubtedly be brought against him soon.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, said in a statement later on social media that it had “commenced an investigation into Idris Okuneye, a.k.a. Bobrisky, for allegedly spraying Naira notes.” The statement was titled “EFCC Grills Bobrisky for Naira Abuse.”

“After seeing a video of the 31-year-old spraying and flaunting wads of fresh Naira notes at the Ajakaju movie premiere on March 24, 2024, at Film One Circle Mall in Lekki, Lagos, produced by Nollywood actress and producer Eniola Ajao, the EFCC invited her.

“Investigation also revealed that he had also committed the alleged offence at some other event centres and parties at different times.

“Following the invitation by the commission, he arrived at the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC in the morning of Wednesday, April 4, 2024, for interrogation and volunteered his statements.

“He will face charges in court after the investigations are finished.” Court oN400m charges:

Impeccable sources in the EFCC said the cross-dresser was detained in a lone cell.

“Bobrisky has been grilled by interrogators, and he has given his statement wherein he identified as ‘Idris Okuneye’. He’s being detained in a lone cell. He has no cellmates; he’s neither in a male nor female cell; he’s the only one in his cell,” a source said.