Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
Nigeria jails transgender celeb for banknote ‘spraying’
LAGOS, Nigeria &mdash;&nbsp;This file photo, taken on January 28, 2016 shows naira banknotes, Nigeria&rsquo;s currency, in Lagos.<strong> (Photo: AFP)</strong>
Latest News
April 12, 2024

Nigeria jails transgender celeb for banknote ‘spraying’

LAGOS, Nigeria (AFP) — A court on Friday sentenced one of Nigeria’s most famous LGBTQ celebrities, a transgender woman known as Bobrisky, to six months in jail after she was found guilty of throwing banknotes in the air at a film premiere.

The celebration with bank notes, known locally as “spraying”, is common at Nigerian weddings and parties, but prohibited by law for damaging the national currency naira.

A federal judge in Lagos handed Idris Okuneye six months for mutilation of naira notes, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or EFCC anti-corruption agency that handled the case.

“The act of mutilating the Naira notes has become a menace, which has continued to damage the image of the country,” Justice Awogboro said, according to the EFCC statement.

“Enough of people mutilating and tampering with our currencies. It has to stop.”

Lawyers for Bobrisky could not immediately be reached for comment.

But the EFCC said in its statement Bobrisky had claimed to be unaware of the law against spraying and asked for a second chance.

The central bank says “any form of defacement of the currency is a form of ridicule on the nation” that can be punished with imprisonment or a fine.

Rights groups say LGBTQ people are regularly harassed and intimidated by the police in Nigeria, where homosexuality is punishable by 10 to 14 years in prison.

EFCC said it had based its probe on a “video of spraying and flaunting wads of new Naira notes” at a film premiere in Lagos.

Nigerian actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin was sentenced to six months in prison in February after she was filmed spraying and stepping on banknotes.

{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Latest News, News
WATCH: House in turmoil over Cuba censure motion
November 3, 2026
A motion seeking to censure the Government over Jamaica's abstention on a United Nations resolution against the US embargo on Cuba triggered heated ex...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaican-American Byron Donalds becomes Florida’s first black governor
International News, Latest News
Jamaican-American Byron Donalds becomes Florida’s first black governor
November 3, 2026
Donald Trump-backed Byron Donalds won the governor's race in Florida, becoming the state's first black governor. He defeated Democratic candidate Davi...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer", "breaking-news":"Push Notifications"}
Tensions flare as Phillips,  McKenzie clash in Parliament
Latest News, News
Tensions flare as Phillips, McKenzie clash in Parliament
November 3, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — An altercation occurred in the House of Representatives involving Manchester North West Member of Parliament Mikael Phillips and  ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms becomes first Black woman governor in US
International News, Latest News
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms becomes first Black woman governor in US
November 3, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) -- Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, won the race for governor in the southern state of Georgia o...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Rising Democratic star Jon Ossoff’s reelection fuels presidential prospects
International News, Latest News
Rising Democratic star Jon Ossoff’s reelection fuels presidential prospects
November 3, 2026
ATLANTA, United States (AFP) -- Jon Ossoff's reelection Tuesday to the Senate in the southern state of Georgia will fuel speculation of a 2028 preside...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Couple held in St Mary for cocaine
Latest News, News
Couple held in St Mary for cocaine
November 3, 2026
ST MARY, Jamaica — A 63-year-old man and his common-law wife are now in custody after police seized approximately three pounds of cocaine at their apa...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Democrats show early US election strength in stinging reckoning for Trump
International News, Latest News
Democrats show early US election strength in stinging reckoning for Trump
November 3, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) -- Democrats flipped a first US Senate seat Tuesday in early midterm election results that boosted their push to win c...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
BZR WKND ticket buyers still waiting on refund weeks after organisers pledged money back
Entertainment, Latest News
BZR WKND ticket buyers still waiting on refund weeks after organisers pledged money back
November 3, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Patrons who purchased tickets for the postponed BZR WKND Jamaica 2026 concert are expressing frustration over what they say is a l...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct