Controversial celebrity Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has preached against naira abuse after regaining freedom from prison.
The social media influencer and socialite regained his freedom from the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, after spending six months in incarceration for abusing the naira by spraying it at parties.
In footage posted on social media, the crossdresser was seen inside a car leaving the prison vicinity alongside two friends.
In another footage, the crossdresser while being interviewed by GoldMyne TV urged Nigerians to stop abusing the naira as he asked them to learn from him, saying not only criminal offences that can send one to jail.
He said; “You have to obey the rules and law, don’t spray money o, or else you will come and be a landlord inside the Kirikiri, so stop spraying money.
“Trust me, it is not all about killing or any criminal activities – something slight can actually take to inside there.”
On 5 April 2024, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arraigned the crossdresser on six counts on money laundering and other related offences and he was convicted.
However, during the hearing, Justice Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed counts five and six, related to money laundering, leaving counts one to four.
The judge then sentenced him to a six-month jail term for Naira abuse.
Justice Awogboro, who sentenced the cross-dresser without an option of fine, said his sentence would serve as a lesson for others abusing the Naira.
His jail term began on 24 March, coinciding with the day of his arrest.
Bobrisky’s case was similar to actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, who was convicted for spraying and trampling on new Naira notes at a Lagos wedding.
A video clip showing Ms Omoseyin spraying new Naira notes at a Lekki wedding on 28 January 2023, went viral, leading to her arrest on 1 February 2023.
Ms Omoseyin was sentenced to six months in prison or a N300,000 fine by Judge Chukwujekwu Aneke on 2 February.