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Abusing the Naira in any form is a crime. The Central Bank of Nigeria Act<\/a>, 2007 prohibits spraying, stamping, engraving, selling, and mutilating the currency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to section 21(1) of the 2007 CBN Act<\/a>, any person convicted for the abuse of a naira note or who tampers with a coin or note is liable for imprisonment for a term not less than six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 (approximately US$37) or to both a fine and imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently, some Nigerian celebrities were entangled in legal battles over alleged abuse of Nigerian currency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among those prosecuted over the issue of naira were controversial celebrity crossdresser and socialite Idris Okuneye<\/a>, who is also known as Bobrisky, and Pascal Okechukwu<\/a>, known as Cubana Chief Priest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The issue generated much controversy and debate online. Many interpretations have been given as to why one of the offenders, Bobrisky, was sentenced to six months in prison without the option of a fine while Cubana Chief Priest was granted bail after paying a fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reacting to the issue, An X user, SDX @SDX_Trades<\/a>, wrote<\/a>, \u201cWhat Bobrisky money cannot do, Cubana chief priest money will do it.END\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another X user, Olawale Quadri @QualityQuadri<\/a>, posted<\/a>, \u201cLATEST on Cubana Chief Priest Naira Abuse⤵️EFCC, Cubana Chief Priest to settle out of court, but Bobrisky is still dey behind bars for the same offence.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a TikTok video<\/a> posted by an X user, @Aramideoflagos<\/a>, the speaker explained<\/a> that Bobrisky was sent to jail because he pleaded guilty to his offence. At the same time, Cubana Chief Priest was granted bail because he pleaded not guilty to his offence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The speaker in the video asserts that the outcome of the case was also influenced by the counsel’s approach to the offenders. He noted the importance of pleading guilty and pleading not guilty in the face of the popular clich\u00e9 that says a suspect is proven guilty of a crime until the case is established beyond a reasonable doubt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to the debate and reactions to the cases’ outcomes on social media, especially by X users, DUBAWA decided to highlight and clarify issues concerning the cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bobrisky was arraigned on April 5, 2024, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission<\/a> (EFCC) in a Lagos court on four counts<\/a> of naira abuse and two counts of suspected money laundering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos later sentenced<\/a> him to six months in jail without the option of a fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During Bobrisky\u2019s trial, he pleaded guilty<\/a> to the offence and told the court that he was unaware that he was breaking the law, adding that he was just a social media influencer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am a social media influencer with five million followers; honestly, I was not aware of the law. I wish I could be given a second chance to use my platform to educate my followers against the abuse of the Naira,\u201d Bobrisky said in his plea for mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Justice Awogboro reminded Bobrisky that ignorance of the law is not an excuse, a notion that he (Bobrisky) agreed to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Judge said in his ruling, “The act of mutilating the Naira notes has become a menace, which has continued to damage the country\u2019s image. Enough of people mutilating and tampering with our currencies. It has to stop. His will serve as a deterrent to others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a similar situation, on April 17, 2024, the EFCC arraigned<\/a> Cubana Chief Priest on three counts<\/a> of abuse of the Naira before Justice Kehinde Ogundare at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During his arraignments, the Cuban Chief Priest pleaded not guilty<\/a> to the charge and was granted bail in N10m, with two responsible sureties in like sums. His case was adjourned until May 2, 2024, to hear his application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his last hearing on May 2, Cubana Chief Priest\u2019s legal representative told the presiding Judge that his client had applied<\/a> for the matter to be settled out of court. This means that there will be a need to apply for a withdrawal of the defence\u2019s preliminary objection to allow for reconciliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, while serving his jail term, Bobrisky has also filed<\/a> a notice of appeal challenging the six-month maximum sentence given to him by the Federal High Court in Lagos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While explaining the outcome of the cases, a legal practitioner, Ibrahim Abiola, noted that pleading guilty to an offence does not mean conviction, and the issues of Bobrisky and Obi Cubana must be viewed independently based on the merits of each case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said, \u201cWhen a person pleads guilty, it doesn\u2019t automatically translate to conviction by the court. The prosecution is required to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a conviction, and that was done in Bobrisky\u2019s case.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBobrisky and Cubana Chief Priest\u2019s cases and judgments explained<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Legal practitioner reacts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n