Bobrisky, James Brown, others risk jail as Reps move to ban cross-dressing

Bobrisky Idris Okuneye

Controversial cross-dressers Bobrisky, James Brown and others may be risking a six-month jail term over a bill by the House of Representatives to ban cross-dressing in Nigeria.

The amendment, sponsored by Muda Umar (APC, Bauchi), on Tuesday, seeks to amend sections 4 and 5 of the principal act.

This proposed bill, if passed into law, could affect Idris Okuneye Olanrewaju popularly known as Bobrisky and James Brown.

The proposed bill, however, exempts the use of cross-dressing for stage acts and other means of entertainment.

“A person engaging in cross-dressing is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment of 6months or a fine of five hundred thousand naira.

“A person shall be deemed to have committed the offence publicly where it is published or displayed publicly notwithstanding that it was committed privately or in a place that would have ordinarily been described as private.

“Provided that this section of this Act shall not apply to cross-dressing in the course of a stage play or any bonafide public entertainment,” the bill read.