Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju (born 31 August 1991), predominantly known as Bobrisky, is a Nigerian social media personality. She is a transgender woman.[2] Bobrisky is also known for her presence on the social media apps Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram.[3][4][5][6][7] She went viral on TikTok for creating the "bobrisky" dance in 2021.[8]
Early life and education
Born Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju in 1991, Bobrisky attended both King's High School and Okota High School for her secondary school education, and graduated with a BSc degree in accounting from the University of Lagos (UNILAG).[9][10]
Exposure
She became recognized as being highly controversial on social media for not adhering to conservative Nigerian standards. Bobrisky has a huge following on social media. She was able to garner traffic to her Snapchat account when she claimed she had a lover who is assumed to be of masculine gender despite the law in Nigeria stating that same-sex relationships are an offence punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment.[11][12][13][14] On 8 July 2021, she revealed a new physical appearance after undergoing surgery to become more feminine.[15]
Reaction
Bobrisky has been asked by certain event planners to give talks at events.[16][17] A Nigerian presidential aide Bashir Ahmad, reportedly walked out of a premises on sighting Bobrisky within the residence.[18][19] In 2019, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director General of Nigeria's National Council for Arts and Culture, called Bobrisky "a national disgrace"[20] and said she would be "dealt with ruthlessly" if caught on the streets.[21]
Influence
In November 2016, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google's Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa, stated that Bobrisky was the most searched individual in Nigeria from 26 October to November of that year.[22][23] Bobrisky has also garnered attention through her associations with other Nigerian celebrities, including Tonto Dikeh.[24]
Legal Issues
Naira mutilation and conviction
In early April 2024, Bobrisky was arrested for allegedly defacing naira banknotes, following an investigation by the EFCC. The charges stemmed from social media videos that appeared to show her throwing money in the air at a film premiere the previous month.[25] Bobrisky entered a guilty plea to four counts of currency abuse on April 5, 2024. The maximum penalty for this offence is six months in prison.[26] On April 12, 2024, Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison with no option of fine over the "abuse and mutilation the Naira notes".[27][28] Bobrisky was released from prison on August 5, 2024[29][30][31]
Immigration service
On October 20, 2024, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) arrested Bobrisky while she was trying to leave the country through Seme border.[32] She spent the night of that same day in custody and on October 21, 2024 she was transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon, Lagos.[33]
EFCC legal battle
Following a legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after VeryDarkMan's online leak of Bobrisky's audio recording, on 30 November 2024 it was reported that Bobrisky's fundamental rights suit against the EFCC was dismissed by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on 28 November 2024.[34] Justice Alexander Owoeye had ruled that Bobrisky's "claims of violation of fundamental rights" lacked merit and could not be supported by "credible evidence".[34]
See also
Fola Francis – Nigerian transgender model (1994–2023)
Jay Boogie – Nigerian transgender woman (born 1998)
Miss Sahhara – Nigerian beauty queen and LGBTQ advocate
^Itie, Harry (2 September 2019). "Wetin be Bobrisky crime?". bbc.com/pidgin. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
