Naira abuse: Kano TikToker sentenced to six months in jail with N50,000 fine option

The Kano Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday secured the conviction and sentence of social media influencer, Murja Ibrahim Kunya.

Kunya appeared before Justice Simone Amobeda of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano for allegedly spraying naira notes for fun during her stay in a hotel room at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano.

She was initially arrested in January 2025 for violating the Central Bank of Nigeria Act which prohibits the abuse and mutilation of the Naira.

She was granted an administrative bail by the commission pending her arraignment before the Federal High Court in Kano.

However, when it was time for her court appearance, she absconded in her bid to evade the legal processes.

However, after weeks of surveillance, EFCC operatives successfully re-arrested the TikTok influencer on March 16, 2025.

She was subsequently arraigned on 20 May 2025 and she pleaded guilty to the one count amended charge.

The charge against Kunya reads, “You Murja Ibrahim Kunya on the 28th of December, 2023 at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while dancing in one of the rooms at Tahir Guest Palace tampered with naira notes issued by Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying and marching on same on the said occasion and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007”.

Following her guilty plea, counsel for the prosecution,  Musa Isah reviewed the facts of the case and prayed the court to convict her accordingly.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday,   Justice Amobeda convicted Kunya and sentenced her to six months imprisonment with an option of N50,000 fine.

A statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity, EFCC, added, “In a significant and rehabilitative dimension to the sentencing, Justice Amobeda also issued a consequential order appointing her as an Ambassador of EFCC and CBN in online advocacy campaigns against naira abuse due to her substantial following across various social media platforms.

“This order mandates Kunya to utilize her social media reach to educate her followers on the importance of respecting the Nigerian currency and the legal consequences of its abuse or mutilation.”