Controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye Olanrewaju, aka, Bobrisky, has been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes, such as advance fee fraud and money laundering.
In his case, EFCC accused Bobrisky of abuse of naira, spraying of naira notes and currency mutilation. If convicted, the crossdresser is liable to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of N50,000
Bobrisky, who has been embroiled in several controversies over the past weeks, was arrested in Lagos on Wednesday night, and has since been detained at the Lagos Command of the EFCC.
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said Bobrisky would be charged to court.
Oyewale said, “Bobrisky is with us. He was arrested last night in Lagos, and he is at our Lagos command. We arrested him for alleged abuse of naira notes, spraying of naira notes, and currency mutilation, among others.
“We are very serious about restoring the dignity of the naira. Though our investigation is still ongoing, he will definitely be charged to court soon.”
In December 2022, the Central Bank of Nigeria warned that those abusing the naira were liable to go to jail, noting that the law banning the “spraying’’ and the stepping on the naira, especially at social gatherings is still in force and offenders are liable to six months imprisonment or a fine of N50,000.
The CBN said it was working with the police, the FIRS, the EFCC and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to curb the abuse.
The bank condemned “spraying’’ of money in public, adding that the envelope remains the best and acceptable means of extending goodwill at events.
“Money should not be squeezed but be put in envelopes. Oil should not be allowed to touch money; keep it neat like you keep your clothes.
“You do not dirty your clothes and you do not keep your clothes on the ground, so, there is need to keep our naira well,” CBN said.
It added that the CBN Act empowers it to arrest those who abuse the naira; stressing that the naira remains the pride of the nation and must be kept clean at all times.
The apex bank condemned the idea of hurling wads of naira notes in the air and stamping on the currency at social functions.
“There have also been cases where people mishandle the naira, deface it, or hawk it at parties.
“Contrary to the practice of these unpatriotic persons, it is neither cultural nor moral for people to disrespect the currency, which citizens trade in,’’ the Bank stressed.
