Embattled controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky has on Friday arrived at the Federal High Court in Lagos for his arraignment on charges of money laundering and naira abuse.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed six counts against Bobrisky, alleging offenses related to money laundering and the improper handling of the national currency.
Bobrisky is scheduled to present his plea to the vacation judge presiding over the proceedings, Justice Abimbola Awogboro.
Having spent the night in EFCC detention since Wednesday, Bobrisky was unable to fulfill the conditions of the administrative bail granted to him on Thursday.
In the first four counts, the defendant was accused of naira abuse. While the 5th and 6th counts accused him of offenses connected with his company, Bob Express.
The six counts read in part: “That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, on March 24, 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, 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.