The release date of controversial transvestite Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, who was sentenced to six months in prison, has been revealed.
PREMIUM TIMES reported in April that Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos convicted Bobrisky of naira abuse.
The judge, who sentenced the transvestite without the option of a fine, said his sentence would serve as a lesson to others who abuse the naira.
His prison sentence began on March 24, the same day as his arrest.
In its report on Wednesday, Punch newspaper said an impeccable prison source and Bobrisky's lawyer, Ayo Olumofin, confirmed his imminent release from the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
Punch quoted the prison source as saying that “Bobrisky will be released on Monday, August 5.”
The paper further claimed that Mr Olumofin, who appeared in court on behalf of Bobrisky, said: “Yes, it is time for him to be released. Nothing specific will be done during his release. I may not go. I have a contract outside Lagos. Other lawyers may go. As I told you, I am not his original lawyer. I just made an address on his behalf.”
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In a telephone interview with this newspaper on Wednesday evening, Rotimi Oladokun, spokesman for the Lagos Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), said he could not confirm the imminent release of the transvestite.
Mr Oladokun said Correctional Service policy prohibits disclosing an inmate's release date.
He said: “For privacy reasons I cannot confirm what you see in the reports. We have privacy when it comes to the custody of people so I cannot confirm or deny that. So, you can call the National PRO to confirm that. I am giving you an answer but it is your right to ask. If I have the contact of the National PRO, I will send it to you but as the spokesperson for Lagos State, I have told you that for reasons I cannot confirm or deny the release date of an inmate.
“It is privileged information for the inmate and his family. It is not because it is about the particular inmate that you mentioned, it is just a general policy. So it is up to him to decide if he has invited his family or members who want to throw him a party, if he is released, that is a different thing. So we cannot comment on that from the service. That is all.”
Appeal
This newspaper reported on April 22 that Bobrisky filed an appeal to challenge the six-month sentence imposed on him by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The transvestite in the appeal filed by his lawyer, Bimbo Kusanu, asked the court to quash the sentence and replace it with an option of a fine of N50,000 on each count.
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Bobrisky's lawyer stated in the notice of appeal that the trial court imposed the sentence on his client, who had no criminal record.
He added that the Criminal Justice Administration Act (ACJA) provides for the imposition of a lesser sentence.
Background
On April 5, the EFCC charged the transvestite with six counts of money laundering and other related offences and he was convicted.
However, during the hearing, Judge Awogboro dismissed charges five and six, relating to money laundering, leaving charges one to four.
Bobrisky's case was similar to that of actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, who was convicted of spraying and trampling on new Naira notes at a wedding in Lagos.
A video clip showing Mrs Omoseyin spraying new naira notes at a Lekki wedding on January 28, 2023 went viral, leading to her arrest on February 1, 2023.
On February 2, Judge Chukwujekwu Aneke sentenced Ms Omoseyin to six months in prison or a fine of N300,000.