Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday convicted controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, for abusing the Naira and fixed April 9 for sentencing.

The court fixed the date after Bobrisky pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of tampering with the N490,000 by spraying brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Earlier, the EFCC, through its counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, had withdrawn the two-count of laundering N180.7 million through his company, BOB EXPRESS.

He did not give any reason for the decision.

Following the plea of the convict, Justice Awogboro convicted him and then ordered the anti-graft agency to review the facts of the case.

While reviewing the facts of the case, Sulaiman called an investigating officer with the Commission, Bolaji Temitope, who told the judge that the EFCC received intelligence of individuals who have the habit of mutilating and spraying Naira during parties in Lagos.

Temitope also told the court that based on intelligence, the commission sent out an operation team to monitor and observe the activities of suspects.

He said, “We usually visit event centres and monitor social media pages where Naira is abused.

“During the exercise, we came across a video on social media where the convict was seen abusing the Naira.

“Our team then proceeded to view the video and burnt the same on CD. Consequently, the invitation letter was forwarded to the defendant.

“When he honoured the invitation, the defendant was shown a video where he was spraying money on Segun Johnson. He confirmed that he was the one in the video,” he said.

The prosecution then tendered the video, and the court admitted it without objection from the defence lawyer, Ayo Olumofin.

In his allocution, the convict pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy because he was unaware of the law that criminalises the spraying of the Naira.

The convict also claimed he is a social media influencer with over five million followers.

At this point, the judge told him that ignorance of the law was not an excuse.

The convict then said, “I know my lord. My lord, I wish you could give me a second chance to use my platform to inform and educate my followers about spraying money.

“I would do a video on my page and I will educate people about spraying money. I will not repeat it, my lord; I regret my actions, my lord.”

After listening to the parties, Justice Awogboro adjourned the matter to April 9 for sentencing and also remanded the convict in the custody of the EFCC.

The defendant had arrived at court in a bus at about 9 am and was kept waiting inside for over two hours before he was led into the courtroom.

Bobrisky, who wore a black gown and covered his head with a black veil, was surrounded by ten armed operatives of the EFCC who prevented journalists from taking her pictures.

The first four counts of the charge signed by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alleged that the defendant abused the Naira, while the last two counts border on alleged money laundering.

Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has announced the release date for her highly anticipated debut movie, ‘Water And Garri.’

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Savage, who had previously teased fans about her entry into the film industry, announced the highly anticipated release date on social media on Thursday, April 4, 2024.

She disclosed that the movie will be released on May 10, 2024, via global streaming giant, Prime Video.

Sharing a promotional flier showing herself and Nollywood actors Jemima Osunde and Mike Afolayan, Savage wrote: “My beautiful people, our movie @waterandgarrifilm has a date. See you May 10th @primevideo.”

The movie is executive produced by Tiwa Savage and takes its title from her latest EP, ‘Water And Garri.’

Kano State Censorship Board has issued directives banning movies that portray or promote cross-dressing and thuggery in the state.

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The executive secretary of the Board, Abba El-Mustapha, made this known yesterday when he met with the board’s management and stakeholders from Kannywood.

A statement issued by the board’s information officer, Abdullahi Sani Sulaiman, said the decision to ban such films was necessitated by public outcry, hence the need to address the production of films suspected to be promoting crimes and deviant behaviours among youths.

The statement also quoted Abba El-Mustapha to have stated that, “it is high time to fish out any film that may demoralize our customs, norms and values in the name of reaching popularity, viewers or business making.”

El-Mustapha further explained that the Board has the power to ban, suspend or prohibit the production, distribution, sale or exhibition of any film, pornographic books or publications in the state.

He urged the general public to provide relevant information to the Board on any film or publication they believe is not in accordance with the law.