Entertainment
EFCC Arrests Bobrisky – Popular Nigerian Cross-dresser
Bobrisky, a well-known cross-dresser whose real name is Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, has bee reportedly arrested by officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos State.
Reports revealed that Bobrisky was arrested on Wednesday night.
The agency’s representative, Mr Dele Oyewale, verified this information during a phone call with SaharaReporters on Thursday.
The EFCC spokesperson clarified that Bobrisky was detained for defacing naira notes, not for his identity as a cross-dresser.
“It is true our boys arrested him yesterday evening in Lagos for naira abuse. We don’t have anything to do with his lifestyle (being a cross-dresser). He was suspected of committing an economic crime and that was the reason for his arrest,” Oyewale told reporters.
Nation Post understands that Bobrisky was apprehended by the authorities within a short span of 24 hours following the Nigeria Police Force’s previous statement, which stated that there was insufficient evidence to detain him for engaging in same-sex activities.
On Tuesday, the Nigeria Police Force clarified that they were unable to arrest Bobrisky despite the calls to do so.
Numerous individuals have demanded Bobrisky’s arrest, particularly after social media influencer and blogger, Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, criticized the cross-dresser’s recognition as the Best Dressed Female at a Nollywood event in recent videos.
Nonetheless, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Ademola, informed Channels TV on Tuesday that cross-dressers cannot be apprehended as there is no law in Nigeria against cross-dressing.
Furthermore, he emphasized that there is no evidence to substantiate the claims that cross-dressers are affiliated with the LGBTQ+ community.
He said, “There are some cases that are always very difficult to prove.
“I’m not ruling out that we have many of them. Let us be reasonable, you can’t have someone you want to prosecute without having credible evidence against them. I have not read anywhere where cross-dressing is an offence in Nigeria.
“Some of them that are into cross-dressing, the allegation is that they are into something else.
“That’s where the problem lies. We need to have enough proof, credible evidence to prove that they are actually into that. All those offences are natural offences in Nigeria and they are punishable under our laws.”
It is worth noting that the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill was enacted into law in Nigeria on January 7, 2014, under the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan.
This legislation criminalizes any public displays of affection exhibited by same-sex couples.
The law mandates 14 years imprisonment for individuals who engage in a same-sex marriage contract or civil union. Additionally, it imposes a 10-year sentence on individuals or groups, including religious leaders, who witness, assist, or facilitate the solemnization of a same-sex marriage or union.
Furthermore, it enforces a 10-year prison term for those who openly demonstrate a same-sex romantic relationship, whether directly or indirectly. It also penalizes individuals who establish, operate, or participate in gay clubs, societies, and organizations, including supporters of such groups.
