By Prosper Mene
Popular TikTok influencer Murja Ibrahim Kunya has been sentenced to six months in prison by the Federal High Court in Kano for violating Nigeria’s currency laws. The 26-year-old social media star, known for her large following of over one million on TikTok, was convicted for abusing the naira by spraying and trampling on the currency during a video recorded at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano on December 28, 2023.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kano Zonal Directorate secured the conviction after Kunya pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of contravening Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007, which prohibits the abuse and mutilation of the national currency. The court, presided over by Justice Simone Amobeda, offered Kunya an option to pay a ₦50,000 fine in lieu of imprisonment. Additionally, the court mandated her appointment as an ambassador for both the EFCC and the CBN to educate her followers on respecting Nigeria’s currency.
Kunya’s legal troubles began in January 2025 when she was first arrested for allegedly tossing naira notes in the air during a party, an act deemed disrespectful under Nigerian law. After being granted administrative bail, she absconded, prompting weeks of surveillance before her re-arrest on March 16, 2025. The EFCC emphasized its commitment to enforcing laws protecting the integrity of the naira, warning against practices such as spraying or mutilating banknotes during social events.
This is not Kunya’s first brush with the law. In the conservative city of Kano, where Sharia and common law coexist, she has faced multiple arrests for videos deemed immoral by local authorities, often accused of offending the region’s Muslim-majority cultural and religious values.
The EFCC reiterated its stance against naira abuse, urging the public to uphold the dignity of Nigeria’s currency. Kunya’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the legal consequences of such actions, even in the context of social media content creation.
