The Kano office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of popular TikTok influencer Murja Ibrahim Kunya for Naira abuse.
Kunya was sentenced on Wednesday, by Justice Simone Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano after pleading guilty to one count amended charge of tampering with Naira notes.
The EFCC had earlier arrested her in January for allegedly spraying and dancing on Naira notes during a stay at the Tahir Guest Palace in Kano on December 28, 2023.
The act violated Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007, which prohibits the abuse and mutilation of the Nigerian currency.
The charge against her 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.”
Although she was initially granted administrative bail, Kunya failed to show up in court and went into hiding.
She was re-arrested on Sunday, March 16, after weeks of surveillance by the Commission. She was subsequently arraigned on May 20, and pleaded guilty.
Prosecution counsel Musa Isah reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict her.
Justice Amobeda sentenced Kunya to six months imprisonment with an option of N50,000 fine.
In a unique move, the judge also ordered that the social media influencer be appointed as an ambassador for the EFCC and CBN in online advocacy campaigns against Naira abuse.
“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,” the court ruled.