A Nigerian court on Friday sentenced Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, a transgender woman who has gained notability in Nigeria as a social media personality, to six months imprisonment on Friday following an earlier conviction of “spraying,” a practice where people throw money into the air, according to reports from local media. Though considered common practice in Nigeria, especially at weddings and parties, spraying is illegal in Nigeria. 

Olanrewaju, more popularly known as “Bobrisky,” was convicted following a guilty plea on April 5 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for ‘tampering’ with naira banknotes by spraying them at a social event. Bobrisky allegedly sprayed over 400,000 naira (approximately $350) while dancing at an event at a local mall in Lagos. Spraying is considered an abuse of the Nigerian naira, as the banknotes that have been thrown could fall on the ground and might subsequently be walked on by people, which is considered an insult in Nigeria. 

Bobrisky was kept in the custody of the EFCC pending her sentencing hearing, which was delayed due to public holidays in the West African country. 

Bobrisky’s sentence, six months imprisonment without the option of a fine, for two counts of abusing the Naira is the maximum punishment permitted by Nigerian law for the offense. 

Presiding Judge Abimbola Awogboro, delivering the decision Friday, asserted that the sentence would serve as a cautionary tale to prevent others from participating in spraying and abusing the Naira. 

“The act of mutilating the Naira notes has become a menace, which has continued to damage the image of the country,” the judge said when handing down the sentence to Bobrisky. “Enough of people mutilating and tampering with our currencies. It has to stop. His will serve as a deterrent to others.”

Bobrisky’s conviction and corresponding sentence have been met with significant outrage by many Nigerians, who believe that Bobrisky is being singled out by the government due to her transgender identity. Nigeria, a largely conservative country, criminalizes both male and female expressions of homosexuality, and does not recognize transgender identities; transgender individuals are typically referred to as cross-dressers, with their preferred identities and pronouns not being honored. 

Festus Ogun, a human rights lawyer who gained notoriety for challenging human rights abuses by governmental figures and politicians in Nigeria, criticized the country’s “selective enforcement of the law” and called it a “huge problem”. 

Judge Abimbola Awogboro ruled that Bobrisky’s jail term would commence from the day of the social media personality’s arrest, March 24. The conviction and subsequent sentencing remain available for appeal.