Popular Nigerian cross-dresser, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, known as Bobrisky, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday evening in Lagos.
EFCC spokesperson, Mr Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest on Thursday, clarifying that Bobrisky was not detained for his lifestyle but for “naira abuse,” specifically the mutilation of Nigeria’s currency.
“We don’t have anything to do with his lifestyle,” Oyewale explained. “He was suspected of committing an economic crime and that was the reason for his arrest.”
This comes a day after the Nigerian Police Force declared insufficient evidence to arrest Bobrisky for alleged same-sex activities. Calls for his arrest intensified following criticism from social media influencer VeryDarkMan regarding an award Bobrisky received.
However, Police Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Ademola emphasized the lack of laws against cross-dressing in Nigeria and the absence of evidence linking Bobrisky to LGBTQ+ activities. He stressed the need for “credible evidence” to pursue any charges.
Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill, signed in 2014, criminalizes public displays of affection between same-sex couples but does not address cross-dressing.
