What crime did Bobrisky commit?

On 30th August, 2019, a team of police officers from Lagos State Command invaded two locations in Lagos where Bobrisky, a famous cross-dresser, was to have his birthday events. The aim of the police was to disrupt the events and prevent the intended party from holding. And the police succeeded. This leads DPA News to ask questions.

What crime did Bobrisky commit under Nigerian law? None! If he had committed a crime, a court would have issued a warrant for his arrest, he would have been arrested and he would have been charged to court. That is what the law says. But none of this could happen because Bobrisky committed no crime and had no intention to commit any. He threatened no crime and there are no real victims that were injured by him.

The only problem is this: If one takes Bobrisky seriously, one will find that he has an unusual lifestyle – which is a man dressing and looking like a beautiful woman. However, if one does not take him seriously, one will find him an interesting entertainer who creates fun and amusement by acting harmlessly in an unusual manner.

Bobrisky did not commit a sexual offense. He did not have sex in public, which would have offended the anti-decency laws. He did not engage in public nudity. He did not have sex with either man or woman which would have raised the issue of prohibition of same-sex romance. We do not even know whether Bobrisky has a lover or not. So, what offense did this man commit that warranted, not his arrest, but denial of opportunity to have his birthday party?

What is clear is that one government official has become a zealot and has turned himself into a moral police to judge how we should feel about others’ private lifestyle. If we allow Mr. Otunba Runsewe to do this and get away with it, his brand of moral crusade will get to a point where women will be stopped from putting on trousers because that means they are dressing like men, and worse.

What this case shows us is that whatever government office Mr. Runsewe is representing has no further relevance and should be shut down to save taxpayers money. And one hopes that Bobrisky will approach the courts to enforce his rights.