Tiktoker Muhammad Kabir Jailed for Abusing Naira in Kaduna

 

In a recent and widely followed court case, a popular Tiktoker known as Muhammad Kabir has been sentenced to jail by Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna. This judgment came as a result of his unlawful act of abusing and mutilating the Nigerian currency, the Naira. The case was successfully prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), underscoring the seriousness with which currency abuse is treated in Nigeria.

Muhammad Kabir’s troubles began on Tuesday, May 29th, 2025, when he was arrested at Tudun Wada, a neighborhood in Kaduna State. The arrest followed the viral spread of a video he shared on both his TikTok and Instagram social media platforms. In the controversial video, Kabir was seen spraying Naira notes on the ground and deliberately stepping on them with his feet. This act of disrespect towards the nation’s currency did not stop there; he boldly challenged the EFCC by daring them in Hausa language to come and arrest him at his known location. This act of defiance only escalated the case against him.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act explicitly prohibits any form of mutilation or abuse of the Naira, a law designed to protect the integrity and respect for the national currency. Kabir’s actions were deemed to be in clear violation of this law, prompting the EFCC to take swift action.

The legal charge against Kabir was a one-count amended charge which stated:
"That you Muhammad Kabir Sa’ad (a.k.a youngcee0066)(M) sometime in 2025 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did unlawfully mutilate Naira by stepping on the Naira banknotes while making a social media video and posting same on the internet and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 punishable under Section 21(1) of the same Act."

When the charge was read out in court, Muhammad Kabir pleaded “guilty,” admitting responsibility for his actions. Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, M.U. Gadaka, formally requested the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the law.

Justice Aikawa, after considering the case, sentenced Muhammad Kabir to a term of six months imprisonment. However, the court also offered him an alternative to avoid jail time by paying a fine. The fine was set at Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000.00), payable to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This ruling serves as a strong reminder to all Nigerians and social media users about the legal consequences of disrespecting the Naira. The Nigerian government, through institutions like the EFCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria, continues to enforce laws aimed at safeguarding the country’s financial integrity and national dignity.