Kannywood’s Samha Inuwa jailed for wiping nose with naira notes

A federal high court in Kano has sentenced Saadatu Mohammed Inuwa, the Kannywood actress popularly known as Samha Inuwa, to six months in prison for abusing the naira notes.

S.M. Shuaibu, the judge, delivered the judgment on Friday after the actress was convicted on a one-count charge of naira mutilation, an offence contrary to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act of 2007.

The charge against Inuwa stated that she tampered with a N1,000 note by soiling it with her nose in 2022.

The charge against the movie star reads: “That you Saadatu Mohammed Inuwa sometime in 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court tampered with Naira currency in the sum of N1000 (One Thousand Naira) note issued by Central Bank of Nigeria by soiling same using your nose and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21 (1) of the CBN Act. 2007”.

The defendant pleaded guilty when the charge was read to her in court.

Following her plea, Musa Isah, the prosecuting counsel, presented the facts of the case and urged the court to convict and sentence her accordingly.

In her plea for leniency, Inuwa, who was arrested on February 4, 2026, begged the court to temper justice with mercy, explaining that she was a first-time offender and had shown genuine remorse for her actions.

After reviewing the case, the judge convicted Inuwa and sentenced her to six months imprisonment.

However, Shuaibu granted her an option of a fine of N200,000.

In 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intensified its crackdown on naira abuse, citing section 21 of the CBN Act, 2007, which prohibits the spraying, stamping, mutilation, or abuse of the naira.

Also, Section 21(3) of the Act prescribes penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for offenders.

Several notable Nigerians have been arrested, interrogated, arraigned, and remanded in prison for naira abuse.