THE Federal High Court sitting in Kano has sentenced a TikToker, Murja Ibrahim Kunya, to prison over naira abuse.
The TikToker was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly spraying naira notes for fun during her stay in a hotel room at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano.
Kunya was initially arrested in January 2025 for violating the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act which prohibits the abuse and mutilation of the naira.
The TikToker was granted an administrative bail by the EFCC 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.
After weeks of intensive investigation and surveillance, EFCC operatives re-arrested the TikToker on March 16, 2025.
She was subsequently arraigned on May 20 and pleaded guilty to the one count amended charge.
The charge against Kunya read: “You Murja Ibrahim Kunya on the 28th of December, 2023 at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court whilst dancing in one of the rooms at Tahir Guest Palace tampered with Naira notes issued by Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying and matching on same in the said occasion and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”
Following her guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Musa Isah, reviewed the facts of the case and prayed the court to convict her accordingly.
Delivering judgement on Wednesday, May 28, Justice Simone Amobeda convicted and sentenced Kunya to six months imprisonment with an option of N50,000 fine.
The judge also ordered the TikToker to utilise 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.
