An Abuja-based activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has faulted the six-month imprisonment sentence pronounced by a Federal Excessive Courtroom in Lagos towards movie star transgender, Idris Okuneye, a.ok.a Bobrisky, over Naira abuse.
Adeyanju mentioned the jail time period with out the choice of high-quality recommended that Bobrisky, additionally referred to as ‘Mummy of Lagos’, was focused for punishment for an unknown offence apart from the Naira mutilation offence.
In an announcement signed by Deji Adeyanju & Companions and posted on his private Fb web page on Friday, the activist mentioned that whereas he doesn’t condone unlawful actions or violation of the regulation by residents, it was, nevertheless, untenable that the Choose will imprison Bobrisky regardless of the convict’s plea to be given a second change and promise to make use of his social media affect to sensitise his about 5 million followers towards foreign money mutilation on one hand and towards the backdrop that there have been ongoing efforts by all stakeholders to decongest the Custodial Centres then again.
“We be aware with concern, the six-month sentence handed all the way down to Mr. Okuneye Idris Olarewaju (AKA Bobrisky), with out an possibility of high-quality, for Naira mutilation offence, as reported by numerous Nationwide information platforms. Whereas we don’t condone any try to interrupt down the regulation or precise violation of the regulation, we’re, nevertheless, constrained to state on report that at a time when personal people, non-governmental organisations, states and federal governments are taking steps to decongest our prisons, Mr. Olarewaju, a first-time offender, has been sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, however his allocutus and promise to make use of his platform to sensitise the general public towards Naira mutilation.
“In handing down sentences, we urge our courts to be aware of the cultural undertone surrounding offences. The act of spraying Naira or (in any other case referred to as Naira mutilation), although an offence criminalised by regulation, is one which has been a part of our cultural apply from time immemorial. The related businesses, subsequently, have an obligation to hold out large-scale sensitization on the difficulty, earlier than in search of to prosecute offenders. We additionally be aware that even on the mentioned occasion the place Mr. Olarenwaju was alleged to have mutilated the Naira, there have been a number of different individuals participating in the identical act.
“The query is, why single out Mr. Olarenwaju? In prosecuting offences like this, safety businesses have to be cautious to not give the impression that the Defendant is being focused for alleged offences apart from these said on the face of the cost.
“In conclusion, we urge our safety businesses to undertake a neighborhood service method for victimless crimes like Naira Mutilation, whereas we reaffirm our dedication to the rule of regulation and the safety of human rights always,” Adeyanju said.
LEADERSHIP studies that Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Lagos, on Friday, sentenced Bobrisky to six-month imprisonment for abusing and mutilating the Naira notes following his arrest and arraignment by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFFC).