Why I preferred to spend my prison sentence in a men's cell – Bobrisky

Controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, has spoken openly about why he was put in a men's cell during his prison sentence.

PREMIUM TIMES reported In April, Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced Bobrisky to six months in prison for naira misuse.

The judge, who sentenced the cross-dresser without the option of a fine, said the ruling would serve as a lesson to others who misuse the naira.

On August 5, Bobrisky released from Kirikiri Correctional Centre after serving a six-month prison sentence.

Since his release from prison, the crossdresser has hosted parties and done several photo shoots, but has not given any interviews.

However, Bobrisky recently gave his first post-release interview with sketch maker Bae Barbie on the podcast “Curiosity Made Me Ask.”

During the interview, Bobrisky said that serving his sentence in a men's cell gave him more joy.

He said: “I served my sentence in the men's penitentiary (cell) and I enjoyed it very much. I will give reasons for this. If they had put me in the women's penitentiary (cell), I would not have had fun and enjoyed myself. In the men's penitentiary (cell), I was the only other person and they were nice to me. They looked after me.

“So if I had stayed in the women’s cell, who would have taken care of me, bought me food, asked if I had eaten, or looked after me? I was in the women’s cell in EFCC Custody because there were four people in the room. There were four to five guys in the room, and that's obviously a body with breasts. That's a body with a nice shape. So they didn't want to put me with those guys.”

VIP

In addition, the crossdresser denied claims that he was held in a VIP cell during his prison sentence.

This newspaper reported that Bobrisky had a new look after his release, contrary to the expectations of his fans after his time in prison.

His new look and makeup led to speculation about preferential treatment or a VIP prison stay.

Responding to the rumours, he said: “I will not say anything about being put in a VIP cell; that is other people's business. Nigerians know how to sit down and say things that probably never happened or happened differently.”

“People love to put one or two things together and make up stories. So I'm not going to join that party and sit here and tell you. I was there because I was convicted and I went there to serve my prison sentence.”

Why I pleaded guilty

Furthermore, the crossdresser insisted that he was guilty of Naira abuse because he was the one seen in the video.

This newspaper reported that Bobrisky admitted in court that he was a man and pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

“Yes, I pleaded guilty. If I had told the judge I was not guilty, she would have granted me bail and I would have gone home. But I told her I was guilty because I was on the video. What I have noticed about Nigerians is that they don't like the truth. I think telling the truth in court sometimes it frees you and sometimes it doesn't. But I don't care if it might not free me; I think it's important to be honest.

“My lawyer told me in EFCC custody to plead not guilty in court. But I thought about it and realised that I was spending the money. I didn’t know that if you spray money, you can go to jail or get arrested. But you know what? Let me tell my Lord the truth. Whether my Lord is a man or a woman, I don’t care. I will tell the truth. Then it will depend on my Lord to decide whether I have a choice between a fine, community service or something else. And my Lord has decided to sentence Bobrisky to jail,” he added.

A return

Furthermore, Bobrisky expressed his desire to return to prison, pointing out that the judge sentenced him with the intention of breaking his spirit.

Bobrisky viewed his six-month prison sentence as a vacation and a much-needed break.

He said he had been overworked and the verdict had given him some peace of mind.

He explained: “They decided to break me but unfortunately nothing happened to Mummy of Lagos. I am still fine and healthy and I am confident that I will continue to be cultured and pleasant. I would even consider going back to the reformatory for a short period of time. I said that not because I really want to go back there but because these people want to break me. Yes. I have never heard of anyone being locked up for squandering their money.

“It's weird to me; it all happened like a movie. I squandered my money, not anyone else's, and I didn't steal it. I didn't kidnap anyone, I didn't rape anyone, I didn't kill anyone. I just squandered my own hard-earned money, and yet I was sentenced to a place full of criminals – murderers, kidnappers, rapists, murderers. I'm a strong person and I'm ready for anything that comes my way. If I've chosen this lifestyle and it's led me to where I want to be, I have to be prepared for the worst. The worst thing that's happened to me so far is being put in prison when I've done nothing wrong. I haven't killed anyone.”

background

Bobrisky's case was similar to that of actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, who was convicted of spray-painting and trampling on new naira banknotes at a wedding in Lagos.

A video of Ms Omoseyin spray painting new Naira banknotes at a wedding in Lekki on January 28, 2023 went viral and led to her arrest on February 1, 2023.

On February 2, Judge Chukwujekwu Aneke sentenced Ms Omoseyin to six months in prison or a fine of 300,000 naira.