Murja Ibrahim Kunya, a social media influencer popularly known on TikTok, has been sentenced to six months in prison by the Federal High Court in Kano for abusing the Nigerian currency.
The conviction was secured on Wednesday by the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Simone Amobeda.
The EFCC confirmed the sentencing in an official statement released by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
Kunya was arrested after she was seen spraying Naira notes for entertainment purposes while staying at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano.
Her actions were deemed to have violated the provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act that 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,” the EFCC stated.
Following a period of surveillance, EFCC operatives re-arrested Kunya on Sunday, March 16, 2025, and she was arraigned on May 20, 2025, where she pleaded guilty to the amended one-count charge.
The charge 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.”
During proceedings, Prosecution Counsel Musa Isah reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict her in accordance with the law.
In his judgment, Justice Amobeda sentenced the influencer to six months in prison, offering her an option of a ₦50,000 fine.
Beyond the jail term, the court added a unique twist to the ruling aimed at rehabilitation.
Recognizing her significant social media following, the judge also appointed Kunya as an EFCC and CBN Ambassador for online advocacy against Naira abuse.
“The court order requires 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.”
