Transceleb appeals against ‘naira abuse’ prison sentence for money throwing

Internet celebrity Bobrisky was convicted of ‘naira abuse’ after a Nigerian money celebration

Internet celebrity Idris Okuneye, a Nigerian trans woman known online as Bobrisky, has appealed against a six-month prison sentence for ‘spraying’ money at parties.

Such spraying is a traditional part of Nigerian celebrations.

Money spraying remains a revered part of Nigerian celebrations, Funmi Feyide John wrote in AfroStyle magazine. “Anyone who has been to a Nigerian wedding, for example, has witnessed it or, if brave enough to make it to the dance floor, has been the subject of spraying. Nigerians spray dancers or special persons with money during celebrations, subtly placing each individual note on the subject’s head. For example, a bride may become overwhelmed by the amount of bills placed on her head as she dances at her wedding.”

Bobrisky’s lawyer appealed to the court to replace the jail term with a fine of ₦50,000 (about US$37) for each of the four charges, Ghana Web reported.

This comes after he was charged with ‘four counts of naira misuse’ after she was arrested by the EFCC.

Bobrisky had pleaded guilty before Justice AO Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos before being sentenced to six months in prison without the option of fine.

The judge, while delivering his ruling, said the verdict was intended as a deterrent to citizens who like to damage the naira by spraying it during events.

Bobrisky’s lawyer, Bimbo Kusanu, said the court had imposed the harshest possible sentence even though Bobrisky had no previous criminal convictions.

Upon arrest, the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that Bobrisky flaunted N50,000 ($36) at a social event last summer and flaunted N400,000 ($306) at another gathering in March.

Activist Felix Abayomi said the EFCC used Bobrisky as a scapegoat due to the fact that she is a vulnerable member of society, AFP reported.

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“Discrimination in the name of implementing a pick and choose law! Why go after someone who is a vulnerable member of our society? Someone who is clearly dealing with and dealing with the stigmatization of her lifestyle choices, which is innate. Using her as a scapegoat is inappropriate,” Abayomi said. “How can spraying the naira that is cultural for us as a people ever become a financial crime? People who commit economic and financial crimes against us as a people and against our nation-state sit comfortably in the recesses of our legislative chambers and power.”

Chidi Odinkalu, the former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, said the arrest was not about the mutilation of the naira notes but about Bobrisky’s gender identity.

“The EFCC should be ashamed of themselves,” Odinkalu said. “The power of arrest and prosecution is a public trust that should not be used to prosecute those they dislike. Either the EFCC is apparently inactive or there is a clear abuse of power.”

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said Odinkalu’s statements were reckless.

“The committee views such comments by Odinkalu as inappropriate for a former head of a major government agency,” Oyewale said. “Okuneye was arrested and charged by the commission on clear cases of misuse of the naira to which he pleaded guilty.”

AFP stated that Bobrisky is one of the few individuals on the African continent who have publicly discussed their gender transition. .

Since she began publicly showing her transition, several Nigerian political pundits have called for her arrest, according to AFP. There are no laws specifically targeting trans Nigerians, but the Same-Sex Marriage Act criminalizes same-sex marriages and bans the public display of same-sex relationships, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.