Kano Court Jails Kannywood Actress Over Naira Abuse
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has sentenced a popular Kannywood actress, Saadatu Mohammed Inuwa, popularly known as Samha, to six months imprisonment for abusing and mutilating the Nigerian currency.
Justice S.M. Shuaibu delivered the judgment on Friday, February 13, 2026, after the actress pleaded guilty to a one-count charge bordering on the tampering and soiling of a N1,000 note, contrary to Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.
According to the charge, Inuwa committed the offence in 2022 within the jurisdiction of the court by soiling a N1,000 note issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria using her nose — an act considered a violation of the law protecting the integrity of the national currency.
Upon arraignment, the defendant admitted to the charge without contest. Prosecuting counsel, Musa Isah, thereafter reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict and sentence her in accordance with the law.
In her plea for leniency, the actress described herself as a first-time offender and expressed remorse for her actions, appealing to the court to temper justice with mercy.
In his ruling, Justice Shuaibu convicted and sentenced Inuwa to six months imprisonment with an option of a N200,000 fine.
The conviction underscores ongoing enforcement efforts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and relevant authorities to curb the abuse and mutilation of the Naira, an offence punishable under Nigerian law.
The EFCC has repeatedly warned Nigerians against acts that deface, tamper with, spray, or otherwise abuse the national currency, stressing that such practices undermine the dignity and legal protection accorded to the Naira.
