Controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, A.K.A Bobrisky has approached the Appeal Court, challenging the six months sentence given to him by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
He pleaded guilty before Justice A.O. Awogboro of the court on a four counts charge bordering on naira abuse proffered on him by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
However, the court on April 12 sentenced Okuneye to six months imprisonment without an option of fine to serve as a deterrent to others fond of abusing and mutilating the naira.
Not satisfied with the verdict handed to him, Okuneye, through his counsel, Mr Bimbo Kusanu, has approached Court of Appeal, praying it to set aside the sentence.
Specifically, Bobrisky is asking the court to replace the sentence with an option of N50,000 fine on each of the counts.
In the notice of appeal, he submitted that the trial court imposed the maximum sentence on the appellant, who had no previous criminal record of conviction.
He stated that there were options to impose a lesser sentence by the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
He averred that the sentence imposed by the trial court against the appellant was punitive and contrary to the mandatory provisions of the ACJA.
The appellant stated that the trial court did not consider the positive antecedent of the appellant, who did not waste the time of the court by pleading guilty to the charge.
He stated that the appellant honoured the invitation of the respondent on the first invitation.
He said that the trial court failed to exercise its discretion judiciously and judicially in sentencing the appellant, explaining that such an act had occasioned a miscarriage of justice against his client.
