.. Remands him in EFCC custody pending sentencing

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of a Lagos Federal High Court, has ordered the social medial influencer, Idris Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky to be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court ordered that Bobrisky to be in anti-graft custody till April 9, when the court will sentence him on a four count-charge of abusing the country’s currency, brought against him by the EFCC.

Justice Awogboro made the remand order today, sequel to his guilty plea to the four counts charge.

EFCC had initially filed six counts charge against the social media influencer, Okuneye for allegedly spraying money at a party and money laundering.

At the resumed proceeding, today, the prosecutor, Mr. Suleiman Suleiman told court that the commission filed an information dated April 4, 2024 with six count charge but urged the court to strike out counts five and six.

The fifth and sixth count offence bordered on money laundering charges.

The court granted the prosecution’s prayer, and struck out the two last counts (5&6), while he was arraigned on count one to four which bordered on abuse of naira.

Part of the charge read: “That you, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, on the 24th day of March, 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.”

His offence contravene the provision of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.

Following his guilty plea to the four counts charge, the prosecution counsel prayed the court to review the fact of the case.

In reviewing the facts of the charges, the prosecutor called Bolaji Temitope, an operative with the agency, who told the court that the commission acted on intelligence report that the defendant was spraying money at a party held at event center in Lekki.

The operative said; “based on special operation to monitor who are in the habit of spraying money at party, the team visited many event center and monitor social media pages where naira is been abused. During the the course, the commission came across video on social media where the defendant was seeing spraying naira note on Segun Johnson.”

Temitope further told court that when the defendant was invited by the commission, he honoured the invitation and volunteer his statement. He said the videos were burned in Compact Disc.”

Upon conclusion of the review of the fact, the court admitted Bobrisky’s tatement and the CD as exhibit as prayed by the lead EFCC counsel which was not opposed by the defendant counsel, Mr. Ayo Olumofin.

In his plea of mercy, Bobrisky prayed the court to give him second chance and pleaded mercy.

“My lord, am a social media influencer with five million followers. In all honesty, am not aware that there is law against spraying money, which is abuse of naira.i regret my action my lord i will not repeat it.”

His counsel, Olumofin prayed the court to temper justice with mercy. He also pleaded the court not to give him non- custodial sentence and option of fine.

“My lord, is an employer of Nigerians. He cooperate with the commission. In totality, we urge the court to allow him to go, as he will be useful to educate the Nigerians.”

After listened to them, Justice Awogboro subsequently adjourned judgement to April 9, 2024. Ordered that he should be remand in EFCC custody.