Nigerian correctional service clears air, says Bobrisky will be held in male prison and protected against assault
Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has cleared the air that Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky will be kept in the male section of the prison facility throughout his six-month imprisonment.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Friday sentenced Bobrisky to jail after he pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of naira abuse.
Bobrisky told Awogboro that he was a man when asked to clarify his gender status before the court.
Meanwhile, immediately after Bobrisky was announced, there was concern about whether he would be kept in male prison or not.
This is because the crossdresser had given the impression that he had transitioned to female going by a video of him clutching what appeared to be bosoms and posing half-naked in a bathrobe.
In one of his photos on Instagram, he wrote, “My journey transitioning into a woman has been going smooth, no health issues, everything is going smooth for me.”
But reacting to the development, the correctional spokesperson said on Friday said; “Since he admitted to being a male in court, then we have to abide by what was submitted in court.
Prison officials also said Bobrisky will be offered adequate protection from other inmates who might want to sexually violate him.
“He shouldn’t be afraid of sexual assault from other male inmates because our men can give him protection.”
Meanwhile, Human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju has strongly criticised the recent sentencing of Mr. Okuneye Idris Olarewaju, also known as Bobrisky, to six months in prison for Naira abuse.
Adeyanju, in a statement he made available to newsmen through Deji Adeyanju & Partners, questioned the appropriateness of the sentence, citing efforts to decongest Nigerian prisons and the fact that this is Bobrisky’s first offense.
The statement read, “We note with concern the six-month sentence handed down to Mr Okuneye Idris Olarewaju (AKA Bobrisky), without an option of fine, for Naira mutilation offence, as reported by various national news platforms.
“While we do not condone any attempt to break down the law or actual violation of the law, we are, however, constrained to state on record that at a time when private individuals, non-governmental organisations, states, and federal governments are taking steps to decongest our prisons, Mr Olarewaju, a first-time offender, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment, notwithstanding his allocutus and promise to use his platform to sensitise the public against Naira mutilation.
“In handing down sentences, we urge our courts to be mindful of the cultural undertone surrounding offences. The act of spraying Naira, or (otherwise called Naira mutilation), though an offence criminalised by law, is one that has been part of our cultural practice from time immemorial.
“The relevant agencies, therefore, have a duty to carry out large scale sensitization on the issue, before seeking to prosecute offenders. We also note that even at the said event, where Mr Olarenwaju was alleged to have mutilated the Naira, there were several other persons engaging in the same act. The question is, why single out Mr. Olarenwaju? In prosecuting offences like this, security agencies must be careful not to give the impression that the defendant is being targeted for alleged offences other than those stated on the face of the charge.
“In conclusion, we urge our security agencies to adopt a community service approach for victimless crimes like Naira Mutilation, while we reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law and the protection of human rights at all times.”
