Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Kano has convicted and sentenced Kannywood actress Samha Inuwa to six months in prison for mutilating the Nigerian currency.
The judgment was delivered on Friday.
Inuwa faced a one‑count charge for tampering with a N1,000 note, an offence under the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007. According to the charge, she “tampered with Naira currency in the sum of N1000 (One Thousand Naira) note issued by Central Bank of Nigeria by soiling same using your nose” in 2022. Inuwa pleaded guilty when the charge was read to her.
During proceedings, the prosecuting counsel, Musa Isah, reviewed the facts of the case and asked the court to convict her. Inuwa then appealed for leniency, telling the court she was a first‑time offender and regretted her actions.
Justice Shuaibu sentenced her to six months imprisonment, with an option to pay a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000).
Earlier this month, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it arrested Inuwa after a video went viral on social media showing her cleaning mucus from her nose with naira notes. The EFCC said operatives from its Kano Zonal Directorate traced the video, identified the actress, and took her into custody for questioning.
Under Nigerian law, it is an offence to deface or abuse the naira. Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act states that anyone who tampers with or defaces a banknote or coin faces a minimum of six months in prison, a fine of at least N50,000, or both. The law lists actions such as soiling, tearing, stapling, writing on, or otherwise damaging the notes as punishable offences.
The EFCC has stepped up enforcement of this provision in recent years, prosecuting several individuals for various forms of currency abuse.
