A Federal High Court in Kano has sentenced popular TikTok influencer Murja Ibrahim Kunya, known as Murja Kunya, to six months imprisonment for abusing the Nigerian currency, the Naira.
Murja Kunya pleaded guilty to the charge of spraying and trampling on Naira notes during a social event at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano, an act that violates Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007, which prohibits the mutilation and abuse of the currency.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured her conviction after an investigation and surveillance that followed her initial arrest in January 2025. She had been granted administrative bail but absconded before her arraignment, only to be re-arrested in March 2025.
Justice Simone Amobeda sentenced her to six months imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of ₦50,000. Additionally, the court appointed Murja Kunya as an Ambassador for the EFCC and CBN to use her social media influence in campaigns against Naira abuse, educating her followers on respecting the currency and the legal consequences of its abuse.
This case follows similar convictions of other TikTokers in Lagos who were sentenced to six months imprisonment for similar offenses related to Naira abuse.
The EFCC continues to enforce laws protecting the integrity of the Nigerian currency, warning against acts such as spraying, stamping, or mutilating Naira notes during social events.
