Bobrisky files notice of Appeal, wants sentence overturned

Oluwasegun SanusiApril 22, 20242 Mins read106

Idris Okuneye, famously known as Bobrisky, has been sentenced to six months in jail with no option of a fine by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos State.

Controversial cross-dresser and socialite, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, has taken legal action against his recent conviction on charges of Naira abuse.

Bobrisky’s lawyer, Bimbo Kusanu, filed a Notice of Appeal on behalf of his client, challenging the six-month imprisonment sentence imposed on him by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

In the notice, Bobrisky argued that the trial court’s decision to impose the maximum sentence was unjust, considering his lack of prior criminal record and the availability of alternative sentencing options under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

He asserted that the sentence is punitive and does not take into account his cooperation during the investigation and his guilty plea.

Bobrisky further argued that the judge’s reasoning, which cited deterrence for others, is flawed as it prioritised the perception of foreigners over the intent of the Central Bank Act 2007, which aims to prevent Nigerians from tampering with the Naira.

“The Appellant has suffered a miscarriage of Justice by the maximum sentence imposed by the learned trial Court.

“The reasons adduced by the learned trial Court for the imposition of maximum punishment on the Appellant which is essentially on what foreigners think of abuse of Naira, qis perverse and is out of tune with the reality of what the trial Court should have been considered to impose maximum punishment on the Appellant.

“The intendment of the provisions of the Central Bank Act 2007 that the Appellant was charged with is for Nigerians not to tamper with Naira and not what nationals of foreign countries view about tampering with Naira.

“The trial Court did not consider the positive antecedent of the Appellant who did not waste the precious judicial resources of the trial Court when he pleaded guilty to the charge. The Appellant honoured the invitation of the Respondent-Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the first invitation during the investigation leading to the charge”.

“The trial Court failed to exercise his discretion judiciously and judicially in sentencing the Appellant. which has occasioned a miscarriage of justice against the Appellant.”

The appellant urged the court to set aside the imprisonment sentence and replace it with a fine of N50,000 on each count, emphasising that such a penalty would be more appropriate given the circumstances.

Recall it was reported earlier that Bobrisky donated sets of chairs to the Kirikiri prison, where he is serving a jail term.

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