News
Naira abuse: Bobrisky to regain freedom August 5
Controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, will, on August 5, 2024, regain freedom from the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, after spending six months in incarceration for abusing the naira by spraying it at parties.
This was disclosed to our correspondent by an impeccable prison source and confirmed by Bobrisky’s lawyer, Ayo Olumofin, on Tuesday.
“Bobrisky will be released on Monday, August 5,” the prison source, who preferred anonymity because he cannot speak officially, told our correspondent.
Confirming the development, Olumofin, who appeared in court for Bobrisky, said, “Yes, it’s about that time for him to be released. There is nothing specific that would be done during his release. I might not go. I’m engaged outside Lagos. Maybe other lawyers will go.
“As I told you, I am not is original lawyer. I just did allocution, for him.”
Bobrisky was sentenced to six months imprisonment on April 12, 2024, without an option of fine by Justice Abimbola Awogboro, who has now been elevated to the Court of Appeal.
Though Bobrisky filed an appeal to challenge his conviction, it is unlikely the appeal would be heard before the expiration of his six-month jail term on August 5.
According to an impeccable source at the correctional centre, Bobrisky is due for release from prison on Monday, August 5, 2024.
Bobrisky was arraigned on April 5, 2024, on four counts of naira abuse preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC prosecution counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, told the court that Bobrisky committed the offence on March 24, 2024, at IMAX Circle Mall, Jakande Lekki.
He said Bobrisky, while dancing at a social event, tempered with the sum of N400,000, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the same.
Suleiman also told the court that between July and August 2023, at Ajah Junction, Ikorodu, while dancing at a social event, Bobrisky tampered with the sum of N50,000, by spraying the same.
The EFCC also said sometime in December 2023, Bobrisky, while dancing at the White Steve event hall, Ikeja tampered with N20,000 by spraying the same.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Section 21 (1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
When the charges were read to Bobrisky, and asked if he understood the charges, he said, “Yes, I’m guilty.”
The EFCC subsequently applied to review the case by adducing evidence to back the counts,
An EFCC operative, Bolaji Temitope, while reviewing the facts of the case, told the court that: “Based on a special operation to monitor who is in the habit of spraying money at a party, the team visited many event centres and monitored social media pages where naira was being abused.
“During the course of the monitoring, the commission came across a video on social media where the defendant was seen spraying naira notes on Segun Johnson, at a movie premiere.
“The defendant also admitted that he was the one in the other videos spraying of naira at Aja Junction, Ikorodu and the other places.”
After listening to the facts of the case, Justice Awogboro said, “Upon the admittance of guilt by the defendant and the review of facts you are hereby found guilty as charged.”
In his allocution, Bobrisky, who fondly calls himself “Mummy of Lagos,” said, “I am a social media influencer with over five million followers. My Lord, in all honestly, I was not aware of the naira law.”
When the judge told him that ignorance of the law was not an excuse, Bobrisky said, “I know, My Lord. I wish that you could give me a second chance to use my platform to inform and educate my followers about spraying money.
“I would do a video on my page and I will educate people about spraying money. I will not repeat this, My Lord. I regret my actions, My Lord.”
News
Bitcoin hits $90,000 for the first time as Trump backs crypto
Bitcoin reached a record high above $90,000 on Wednesday, as the world’s largest cryptocurrency gained from President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to ease regulation on digital assets.
Bitcoin surged to a peak of $91,000 before settling at $90,670.
The volatile asset has soared since Trump’s US presidential election victory last week, repeatedly setting new records.
Trump had pledged during his campaign to make the United States the “Bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world.”
His previous term included corporate tax cuts that boosted market liquidity, encouraging cryptocurrency investment.
In September, Trump announced he and his sons, along with entrepreneurs, would launch a digital currency platform called World Liberty Financial. However, its sales launch earlier this month was lacklustre, with only a fraction of tokens sold.
Cryptocurrencies have drawn global attention, marked by extreme volatility and the collapse of major industry players, including the FTX exchange.
In the lead-up to the election, Trump reportedly became the first former president to use Bitcoin in a transaction, buying burgers at a New York restaurant that hailed it as a “historic transaction.”
AFP
News
NYSC announces date for ‘2024 Batch C’ registration
The management of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, on Wednesday, announced the date for the online registration of prospective 2024 batch C stream I corps members.
The management said the exercise will commence on Thursday, 14 November, 2024.
This was made known in a post on the official X handle of the NYSC on Wednesday.
“Online Registration for 2024 Batch ‘C’ SC Stream I commences 14th November 2024,” the statement read.
The orientation course will commence later on a date to be announced by the NYSC management.
News
More Nigerians, Others Deported By Libya Govt
Few months after many Nigerian were deported, the Department for Combating Illegal Migration in Libya has deported seven Nigerians, three Bangladeshis, and three Ghanaians detained at the Qanfoudah Immigration Detention Centre.
The deportees were flown out of Libya via Benina International Airport in Benghazi.
in a statement on their X handle on Tuesday, confirmed that these individuals were deported for violating Libyan law.
The statement read, “DCIM deported 13 migrants (3 Bangladeshis, 3 Ghanaians, and 7 Nigerians) from the Qanfoudah Immigration Detention Centre via Benina International Airport in Benghazi. All individuals, ,,,were deported for violating laws in force in the Libyan state.”
At the time of filing this report, total number of deported Nigerians still sketchy.
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