…Okuneye sprayed about N400,000 in various tranches of N20,000 and N50,000

A Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Friday, sentenced convicted crossdresser, Idris Okuneye (alias Bobrisky), to six months in prison for abuse of the Naira.

The court did not give the cross-dresser the option of fine.

Bobrisky was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court convicted him on April 5, following his guilty plea, but reserved sentence until April 9.

The court had ordered Okuneye to be kept in the custody of the EFCC pending sentencing.

However, due to the Federal Government’s declaration of April 9, April  10 and April 11 public holidays, the case could not proceed as scheduled.

On Friday, Justice Abimbola Awogboro sentenced the convict without an option of fine.

The judge held that imprisonment would take effect from the date of the cross-dresser’s arrest.

Okuneye was taken away by EFCC operatives immediately after his sentencing.

The EFCC had, on April 4, filed a six-count charge against Okuneye.

The charge bordered on Naira mutilation and money laundering.

He was consequently arraigned on April 5 and he pleaded guilty to the first four counts.

The court struck out the last two counts following an application by the EFCC.

On April 5, Mr Bolaji Temitope, a prosecution witness and  Assistant Superintendant of  EFCC,  gave evidence before the court and narrated the circumstances surrounding the prosecution of Okuneye.

After review of the facts of the case, EFCC counsel, Mr Suleiman Suleiman, prayed the court to convict the cross-dresser.

According to EFCC, Okuneye committed the offences on March 24, at Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos State.

The commission stated that Okuneye tampered with the cumulative sum of N400,000 while dancing during a social event, by spraying same.

Okuneye also sprayed various tranches of money such as N20,000 and N50,000 at various events in 2022 and 2023, according to EFCC.

The offences contravene  Section 21(1) Central Bank Act of 2007 and Section 19 of the Money Laundering Act of 2022

An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Monday ordered that a 52-year-old man, Shola Ajani, be remanded in Agodi correctional facility for contempt of court and alleged perversion of the course of justice.
Ajani, whose address was not provided, was charged with perverting the course of justice.
The Magistrate, Mrs Kausarat Ayofe, remanded the defendant after he had pleaded guilty to the charges.
Ayofe adjourned the case till May 23 for judgment.
The Prosecutor, Insp Toyin Ibrahim, told the court that Ajani, who had been a defendant in a case of assault in 2022, failed to appear in court on Feb. 7.
Ibrahim said that Ajani failed to appear in court on that day to answer the charge against him without cogent reasons.
He said that Ajani’s failure to appear was with the intent to disrespect the court.
According to him, the offences were contrary to Section 133 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The absence of a former employee of Punch Nigeria Ltd., Olusegun Ogunbanjo and others, charged with N950 million fraud on Tuesday suffered a setback as the defendants failed to show up in court.

Other defendants in the suit numbered  ID/21559C/2023 are Olawunmi Ogunbanjo, Vaneloo International Ltd., Valeco Global Ventures, Bagco Garba, Taofeek Ogunbanjo, Ifeanyi Odogwu, Bound Media Ltd., and Godwin Benson.

When the case was called, only counsel to the first defendant, Mr Charles Jiakponna, appeared in court while there was no representation for other defendants.

Justice Ismail Ijelu asked the defence why all the defendants were absent in court without explanation. Ijelu, thereafter, issued a bench warrant on all the defendants except Ogunbanjo.

The judge adjourned the case until March 28 for arraignment.
The court had on Feb.26 overruled the objections of the first defendant that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

The court ruled that it had thoroughly examined the information and proof of evidence in the case and formed the view that its jurisdiction to entertain the case was absolutely, intact.

The court had ordered that all the defendants be produced in court to take their plea.
The Lagos State Government had on March 10, 2023 arraigned Ogunbanjo before a Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged N950 million fraud.

Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun had granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum, following his not guilty plea to the three-count charge of obtaining by false pretences, forgery and stealing.
Ogunbanjo was alleged to have obtained N450 million from one Mr Olusola lkuyajesin and N500 million from one Mr Durodola Balogun under false pretences of using the money to buy stationeries.

He also allegedly forged the organisation’s Local purchase orders to carry out the acts, in contravention of Sections 287, 314 and 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The judge  adjourned the case until March 14 for  arraignment