Kemisola Oye
JUSTICE Abimbola Awogboro of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the controversial social media influencer, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye (socially known as Bobrisky) remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court ordered that Bobrisky be remanded in the custody of the anti-graft agency till 9 April 2024 when the court will deliver judgment in the four-counts charge brought against him by the Commission.
The judge’s order was sequel to his guilty plea to the four counts charge preferred against him by the Commission.
EFCC had initially filed a six-counts charge against the social media influencer, for allegedly spraying money at a party.
At the resumed proceeding, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Suleiman Suleiman told the court that the Commission filed an information dated 4 April 2024 with a six-count charge but urged the court to strike out counts five and six.
The fifth and sixth counts offence border on money laundering.
However, the court granted the prosecution prayer striking out the two last counts (5 and 6) and the defendant was arraigned on counts 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 contravened 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 facts of the case.
However, an operative of the Commission Bolaji Temitope told the court that the Commission acted on an intelligence report that the defendant was spraying money at a party held at an event centre in Lekki.
According to him, “Based on a special operation to monitor who are in the habit of spraying money at parties, the team visited many event centres and monitored social media pages where naira has been abused. During the course, the Commission came across a video on social media where the defendant was seen spraying Naira notes on Segun Johnson. “
Temitope told the court that when the defendant was invited by the Commission, he honoured the invitation and volunteered his statement. He said the videos were burned in a Compact Disc.
The court therefore admitted Bobrisky’s statement and the CD as exhibits as prayed by the lead EFCC counsel, a development that was not opposed by the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Ayo Olumofin.
In his plea for mercy, Bobrisky prayed the court to give him a second chance.
“My lord, am a social media influencer with five million followers. In all honesty, I am not aware that there is a law against spraying money, which is an abuse of Naira. I regret my action, my lord. I will not repeat it.
“I wish that 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.“
His counsel, Olumofin prayed the court to temper justice with mercy. He also pleaded with the court not to give him a non-custodial sentence and the option of a fine.
“My lord is an employer of Nigerians. He cooperated with the Commission. In totality, we urge the court to allow him to go, as he will be useful to educate the Nigerians. “
After listening to the parties, Justice Awogboro subsequently adjourned till 9 April 2024 for judgment. He also ordered that he should be remanded in EFCC custody.
Eighteen-Eleven Media