A Federal High Court in Kano has sentenced popular make-up artist, Abdullahi Huseini, also known as Amuscap, to six months in prison for tampering with the Nigerian currency during his wedding ceremony.
Presiding Judge, Justice S.M. Shuaibu, delivered the judgment after Huseini admitted guilt to a one-count charge of naira abuse filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to the charge, Huseini was accused of defacing the sum of N100,000 in N1,000 notes by spraying the money while dancing at a social event held on December 6, 2024, at Ali Jita Event Centre in Kano.
The EFCC stated that the act was in clear violation of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which prohibits the mutilation and abuse of the naira.
“The convict was arrested following credible intelligence on his involvement in the deliberate mutilation of the Nigerian currency during his wedding celebration,” the EFCC said in an official statement.
During the court proceedings, EFCC counsel Zarami Mohammed presented evidence and detailed the facts surrounding the incident. Based on the submission and the defendant’s guilty plea, Justice Shuaibu found him culpable.
“Having reviewed the evidence and the plea of the defendant, this court finds him guilty as charged,” the judge declared. “He is hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment without the option of a fine.”
The EFCC added that Huseini’s actions were carried out despite repeated public warnings and sensitization campaigns against the abuse of the national currency.
“Naira notes must be treated with respect,” the commission emphasized. “This conviction serves as a strong warning to those who flout the law by spraying or mishandling the currency at events.”
With no alternative to pay a fine, Huseini will serve the full six-month sentence as the Nigerian government continues its clampdown on naira abuse in public gatherings.
