Federal High Court in Kano has sentenced Abdullahi Musa Huseini, a popular make-up artist known as Amuscap, to
six months imprisonment for tampering with the Nigerian currency during his wedding ceremony. Huseini was
convicted after he admitted to abusing the naira during the December 2024 event at Ali Jita Event Centre in Kano,
where he was seen dancing and spraying mutilated notes of N100,000.
The charge against Huseini, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was in violation of
Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007, which prohibits the abuse of the nation’s currency. According to the
EFCC, the convict deliberately defaced Naira notes, which were sprayed and trampled upon during his wedding,
despite repeated warnings and public campaigns against such acts.
The court’s decision follows an EFCC investigation that confirmed the accused’s involvement in the deliberate
mutilation of Naira notes. Upon his arrest, credible intelligence gathered by the EFCC led to his prosecution. During
the trial, the prosecution presented substantial evidence, including video footage, which was used to convict Huseini.
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Justice S.M. Shuaibu, in delivering the judgment, noted that the act of currency defacement went against the Central
Bank of Nigeria’s regulations, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the country’s currency. Huseini’s defense
of ignorance was dismissed as insufficient to absolve him from the charges, and he was sentenced to six months in
prison without the option of a fine.
The convicted individual had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge, leading to a swift trial. This sentence is seen as part
of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to curb the growing practice of Naira abuse, which has led to significant financial loss and
undermined the country’s economic stability.
The EFCC has continued to issue warnings about the negative impact of Naira abuse, encouraging citizens to report
anyone engaging in such illegal activities. With this ruling, the government hopes to send a strong message that
currency defacement will be met with serious legal consequences.
