Bobrisky Seeks Review of Sentence Term, Ready To Pay #50,000 Fine For Every Charge.
A new development emerges as Bobrisky’s legal representative requested the court to swap the crossdresser’s verdict to a ₦50,000 fine for each charge.
The contentious Nigerian figure, also known as Idris Okuneye, filed a notice of appeal on Monday to challenge the six-month maximum sentence given by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Bobrisky was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on four counts of naira abuse and pleaded guilty before Justice A.O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos. On 12th April.
Awogboro sentenced Okuneye to good six months jail with no option of a fine, stating that it should serve as a warning to others not to misuse and deface the naira.
Meanwhile, Okuneye’s lawyer, Bimbo Kusanu, filed a notice of appeal, calling on the Court of Appeal to nullify the maximum sentence.
Kusanu requested the court to substitute the sentence with an option of a ₦50,000 fine for each charge. In the appeal notification, the lawyer argued that the trial court imposed the harshest sentence on Bobrisky, who had no prior criminal record.
Kusanu said: “the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) provides alternatives for a lesser sentence. The sentence against Okuneye by the trial court was overly punitive and contravened the mandatory provisions of the ACJA”.
“The trial court ignored Okuneye’s positive background and prompt cooperation during legal proceedings, such as pleading guilty to the charge and responding promptly to the EFCC’s summons”.
“The trial court did not exercise its judicial discretion appropriately while sentencing Okuneye, resulting in a miscarriage of justice against the appellant”.
