Court slams Kannywood star 6 months jail for defacing naira

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has convicted and sentenced Saadatu Mohammed Inuwa, a Kannywood actress, popularly known as Samha, to six months’ imprisonment for abusing and mutilating the Nigerian currency.

Saleh Shuaibu (Justice) delivered the judgment on Friday after the actress pleaded guilty to a one-count charge bordering on the mutilation of the naira, contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

Read also: Two Chinese get 46 years jail term over N3.4bn, $2.5m cyberterrorism, romance scam

The charge, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, stated that Inuwa tampered with a N1,000 note issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2022 within the jurisdiction of the court.

Specifically, she was accused of soiling the currency with her nose, an act deemed to contravene Section 21(1) of the CBN Act, 2007.

When the charge was read to her, the actress admitted to the offence.

Following her guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Musa Isah, reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict and sentence her accordingly.

Read also: WORLD IN BRIEF: South Korea ex-first lady jailed, UK PM visits China, Ethiopia cracks down on traffickers

Inuwa then appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy, describing herself as a first-time offender who had shown genuine remorse for her conduct.

In his ruling, Shuaibu convicted the actress and sentenced her to six months imprisonment, with an option of a N200,000 fine.