The chronicles of Bobrisky

By Innocent Raphael

An introduction

Before Bobrisky became a household name, his journey encountered a little-known challenge. In 2011, he faced arrest and public scrutiny by the Lagos police for his choice of attire, dressing like a woman, a detail often overlooked in his narrative.

Recently, Bobrisky captured headlines anew as he underwent trial by the EFCC and was convicted of naira abuse by a Lagos court.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sentenced him to six months in jail without the option of a fine, prompting an intriguing exchange where the judge questioned Bobrisky’s gender identity, to which he identified as male.

Despite Bobrisky’s claim of transitioning to female prior to his arrest, his social media persona on platforms like Instagram has amassed a significant following.

His legal ordeal reignited debates about cross-dressing in Nigeria, particularly as a bill proposed in April 2022 sought to criminalize it, potentially leading to imprisonment or fines.

This recent legal entanglement isn’t Bobrisky’s first. In January 2011, before his rise to fame, he faced a similar situation when he was apprehended at a bar in Surulere, Lagos, and publicly displayed for cross-dressing.

The arrest

According to a Vanguard report from 2011, the then 19-year-old Bobrisky, who was known by his birth name Idris Okuneye at the time, was arrested for posing as a woman to extort money from men.

Idris was apprehended at a bar in Surulere, Lagos, where he had dressed up as a woman on a Sunday, hoping to attract clients.

An unexpected turn of events occurred when a man he had met at the bar realized that Idris was, in fact, a man. The man, accompanied by two women, had been charmed by Idris’s appearance at first.

However, suspicion arose when Idris’s behavior seemed off, prompting the man to reach out and discover a sachet of water falling from Idris’s bra, leading to a commotion in the bar.

Dual Personality

Idris’s startling revelation led to his immediate arrest.

He confessed to the police that he had resorted to this unconventional method of earning money just that month, aiming to finance his higher education. He clarified, “I went into it to raise money for my education. After my secondary school, my father couldn’t afford to buy me the JAMB form.

“Moreover, as a man, I found it challenging to get help. I observed that men don’t usually assist each other, but women do. So, I decided to dress as a woman to deceive men for money, but I never engaged in intimate relations with them. When things got too close, I would excuse myself.”

His tactic involved luring men by dialing random numbers and posing as a club girl, which yielded mixed results. By the time of his arrest, he had earned around N20,000, some of which went towards university admission fees.

Despite his endeavors, Idris maintained a discreet presence in Isolo, Lagos, ensuring his family remained unaware of his double life. He learned to emulate female mannerisms and improvised artificial breasts using water sachets to enhance his feminine appearance.

Although he was caught clad in a flowing cream gown with a matching jacket and accessories, including a distinctive brown bag and earrings, the case didn’t attract much attention in the era before social media’s widespread influence in Nigeria.

The Lagos State Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Adesanya Jinadu, warned against similar scams, stating that Idris would face charges of attempted fraud and disturbing public peace. However, little was heard about the case afterward.

Femalehood

After his arrest, Bobrisky remained out of the spotlight for an extended period. He resurfaced in 2017, transitioning into the beauty industry as a cosmetician working with renowned fashion designer Toyin Lawani.

His collaboration with Lawani brought him into celebrity circles, but their relationship soured soon after, with Toyin accusing him of poaching her clients. Subsequently, Bobrisky found new allies among celebrities, notably Tonto Dike.

Nowadays, he’s widely recognized as a socialite and crossdresser, promoting cosmetics and occasionally engaging in online conflicts with various celebrities on social media platforms. His social media following on Instagram at the moment boasts about 5 million accounts.

In September 2022, during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Bobrisky shared her perspective on identifying as a woman, emphasizing the advantages she believes it brings.

“Women underestimate their power and how to leverage it,” she remarked. “When I was presenting as male, I struggled financially and socially. But as a woman, doors opened for me. I wanted independence, so I used what I had to achieve my goals.”

Bobrisky admitted that initially, she saw cross-dressing as a temporary venture, uncertain of its success. However, she gradually recognized the opportunities available to women in Nigeria for success, leading her to consider cosmetic surgery to enhance her femininity.

In 2021, she finally underwent surgery and liposuction to align her appearance with her gender identity, proudly displaying her transformation on social media.

Despite her openness, critics remain skeptical about the authenticity of her features.

Credit: Premium Times