Transgender celebrity sentenced: Bobrisky, a transgender woman and one of Nigeria’s most famous celebrities, was given a six-month prison term for “spraying” naira bills during a movie premiere. According to local media sources, the judge ordered Bobrisky to complete his term in a male jail, and he was not given the option to pay a fee instead.
It is customary at Nigerian weddings and parties to toss money into the air as a token of gratitude. Still, it’s illegal in a legal sense since someone could tread on the banknotes that fall to the floor.
The prevalence of homophobic and transphobic attitudes and behaviors among Nigeria’s LGBTQ population has been brought to light by advocacy organizations. February saw the same sentencing for the same crime committed by cisgender, straight actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin.
Bobrisky maintained throughout the trial that she had no knowledge the conduct was illegal. Such acts have been prosecuted infrequently up until this point.
