A Nigerian court has sentenced popular TikTok influencer Murja Kunya to six months in prison for “spraying” naira notes at a party.
Kunya, 26, was found guilty of violating Nigeria’s currency abuse laws after a video showed her tossing banknotes in a hotel room.
The act, often performed during celebrations, is considered disrespectful to the national currency and banned under a 2007 law.
Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano offered Kunya the option to pay a 50,000 naira (\$33) fine in lieu of jail.
He also ordered her to use her social media platform, with over one million followers, to campaign against naira abuse.
Known for controversial content, Kunya has faced repeated arrests by Hisbah, Kano’s Islamic police, for posts deemed immoral.
Her latest legal trouble began in January when Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the EFCC, arrested her over the viral spraying video.
Though granted bail, she failed to appear in court and was declared wanted until her rearrest in March.
Critics argue the law is inconsistently enforced, pointing to the selective targeting of high-profile personalities.
The EFCC has increased crackdowns on naira abuse since last year, leading to multiple celebrity prosecutions.
Despite the festive roots of “spraying”, the government insists the practice degrades the national currency and must stop.
Kunya’s sentencing reflects a broader campaign to uphold financial decorum in public and online spaces.