Kano TikToker Murja Kunya Sentenced To Six Months In Prison For Naira Abuse

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured a conviction against social media influencer, Murja Ibrahim Kunya at the Federal High Court in Kano.

Murja Kunya was sentenced to six months in prison on Wednesday, May 28, by Justice Simon Amobeda.

The TikToker was taken into custody after a video surfaced of her spraying Naira notes while dancing in a hotel room at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano.

According to the EFCC, her actions violated the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, which bans tampering with or mishandling the national currency.

She was initially arrested in January 2025 and released on administrative bail, but later failed to appear in court when summoned.

After she went into hiding, EFCC operatives tracked her down and re-arrested her on March 16, 2025. She was finally arraigned on May 20, where she pleaded guilty to the amended one-count 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, EFCC prosecutor Musa Isah presented the facts of the case and asked the court to convict her.

Justice Amobeda sentenced her to six months in prison but gave her the option of paying a ₦50,000 fine.

In addition to the sentence, the judge also ruled that Kunya must serve as a social media ambassador for both the EFCC and CBN.

As part of her penalty, she is required to use her online platforms to educate the public about the importance of treating the Naira with respect and the legal risks of abusing the currency.

KanyiDaily recalls that the EFCC also secured the conviction of Okoli Frank Emeka, who was recently sentenced to six months in prison for mutilation of the Naira notes.