A Nigerian court on Friday sentenced one of the country’s biggest LGBT+ celebrities to six months in prison, a transgender woman known as Bobrisky convicted of throwing banknotes to the ground, according to a press release from the Nigerian court. anti-corruption agency that handled the case.
The authorities accuse Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, of a video in which she is seen throwing banknotes to the ground, for a total value of 400,000 naira (326 euros), the local currency, on the occasion of the pre- premiere of the film Ajakaju, in Lagos on March 24.
This practice is common in Nigeria in certain festive events, notably weddings.
However, it is prohibited by law, with the Nigerian Central Bank considering that it “undermines the symbol of the country’s sovereignty” and that it can be punished by “a prison sentence, a fine, or both”.
Bobrisky said he was not aware of the law prohibiting the practice, according to a statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Damaging our tickets harms the image of the country,” Judge Awogboro was quoted as saying in the press release.
Bobrisky’s lawyers could not immediately be reached by AFP.
Nigerian actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin was sentenced to six months in prison in February on the same charge.
Bobrisky is very active on social media where she is known for her controversies.
At the Ajakaju premiere, she won the “best dressed woman” award.
of the event.
In Nigeria, where homosexuality is punishable by 10 to 14 years in prison, LGBT+ minorities are regularly harassed and intimidated by the police, frequently accused of extortion and humiliation.
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2024-04-13 10:37:36
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