Kano TikToker And Musician Bag Jail Terms For Naira Abuse

Justice S.M Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Kano, Kano State, has found and sentenced a TikToker, Abubakar Ibrahim (known as ‘G-Fresh), and a musician, Hamisu Sa’id (known as Hamisu Breaker), for the offense of abusing the Naira.

According to a statement from the commission, the individuals were imprisoned following their arraignment by the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a single-count charge each, related to the misuse of Naira notes, in violation of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.

The charge against Abubakar Ibrahim states,
“That you Abubakar Ibrahim sometime in November, 2024 in Rahma Sa’idu Shop in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing sprayed and matched on 1000 Naira notes denomination totalling (₦14,000) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”

The charge against Yusuf reads,
“that you Hamisu Sa’id Yusuf sometime in November, 2024 at Hadejia Jigawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a- social occasion tampered with the sum of N30,000,00 (Thirty Thousand Naira) of N200 denomination issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same in the said occasion and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”

Both individuals entered guilty pleas when their respective charges were presented to them.

Based on their pleas and the evidence submitted by the EFCC’s counsel, Zarami Mohammed, Justice Shuaibu declared the defendants guilty as charged. He convicted and sentenced each to five months in prison, with the option of paying a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦200,000.00) each.

Their path to imprisonment began when they were caught spraying Naira notes. They were subsequently charged in court and jailed.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli