Justice Served! Viral TikToker Murja Kunya Gets 6 Months Behind Bars for Abusing Naira

The Kano State Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of popular social media influencer, Murja Ibrahim Kunya, at the Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda.

Murja was initially arrested in January 2025 for allegedly spraying and stepping on Naira notes while dancing in a hotel room at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano — an act considered a violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, which prohibits the abuse and mutilation of the national currency.

Though she was granted administrative bail pending her arraignment, Kunya failed to appear in court and attempted to evade prosecution. After weeks of investigation and surveillance, EFCC operatives re-arrested her on March 16, 2025. She was formally arraigned on May 20, 2025, where she pleaded guilty to a one-count amended charge.

The charge reads:
“You, Murja Ibrahim Kunya, on the 28th of December, 2023, at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, while dancing in one of the hotel rooms, tampered with Naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying and trampling on them, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 21 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”

Upon her guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Musa Isah, presented the facts of the case and urged the court to convict her. Justice Amobeda, in his ruling on Wednesday, sentenced Murja to six months imprisonment, with an option of ₦50,000 fine.

In a notable twist, the judge also appointed Murja as a Public Ambassador for both the EFCC and the CBN. She is now mandated to use her social media platforms to educate the public on the proper treatment of the Naira and the legal consequences of its abuse.

This directive aims to leverage her vast online reach to promote awareness and respect for the national currency.