UPDATE: Bobrisky will be arrained on Friday before Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos for money laundering.
Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, a transgender woman, was arrested on Thursday for alleged mutilation of naira notes.
Banknote mutilation is an offense in Nigeria that carries a sentence of six months in jail.
However, the reason for Bobrisky’s arrest is a national issue that is likely to take centuries to resolve.
The reason I say it could take about 100 years to resolve is that the practice of throwing naira notes in the air has been a long-standing habit that many Nigerians fail to heed warnings about. Despite lingering warnings, it seems that these cautions fall on deaf ears.
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Nigerian law prohibits throwing naira notes into the air, as they may fall to the ground and be trampled upon.
The fear of disrespecting the national currency, which in turn reflects poorly on the nation, is why people are prohibited from throwing banknotes into the air in the name of celebration.
Technically, this act constitutes an offense since the notes end up falling to the ground, where they could be stepped on. The maximum punishment for this offense is six months in jail, although prosecutions are rarely pursued.
Reports suggest that Bobrisky allegedly sprayed money at the premiere of “Ajakaju,” a highly anticipated film by actress and producer Eniola Ajao, held at Film One Circle Mall in the upscale Lagos district of Lekki last month.
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Videos of the event circulated widely on social media, potentially prompting authorities to take action.
The celebrity, boasting more than five million followers on Instagram, has yet to make any statements regarding the incident.
Dele Oyewale, spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the BBC that Bobrisky would face charges in court once investigations are completed, although no specific timeline was provided.
In a similar incident in February, actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin was sentenced to six months in prison for spraying and stepping on new naira notes.