Following the ongoing effort to control the abuse of Naira, Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano, Kano State, has convicted and sentenced popular TikToker, Abubakar Ibrahim, known online as ‘G-Fresh’, and musician Hamisu Sa’íd Yusuf, popularly known as Hamisu Breaker, for abuse of the Nigerian currency.
The duo were arraigned by the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on one-count charges each, bordering on abuse of Naira notes, in violation of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.
According to the EFCC, Abubakar Ibrahim, in November 2024, was captured dancing, spraying, and stepping on ₦14,000 in ₦1,000 notes at Rahma Sa’idu Shop in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State.
His charge read:
“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.”
Similarly, Hamisu Sa’íd Yusuf was accused of spraying ₦30,000 in ₦200 notes during a social event in Hadejia, Jigawa State, also in November 2024.
His charge read:
“That you Hamisu Sa’íd 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 defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when read before the court.
Following their plea and the presentation of evidence by EFCC counsel, Zarami Mohammed, Justice Shuaibu found the accused persons guilty as charged. He then convicted and sentenced each to five months imprisonment, with an option of a ₦200,000 fine.
The sentencing highlights the EFCC’s ongoing campaign against naira abuse, a practice increasingly popularized on social media and public ceremonies, which the Commission insists undermines the value and dignity of Nigeria’s legal tender.
The EFCC urged the public to desist from any acts of naira mutilation, spraying, or stepping, warning that violators will be prosecuted under the full weight of the law.
Credit: officialEFCC via x.com.
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