Court Convicts Two Social Media Influencers Over Naira Abuse

Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has convicted two social media influencers, Bukola Rufai and Abdulateef Jimoh, for the abuse of Nigeria’s currency.

This development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to the EFCC, both individuals were arraigned on a joint one-count charge of currency mutilation by the agency’s Ibadan Zonal Directorate. The charge alleged that on or about September 25, 2024, Rufai and Jimoh deliberately trampled on naira notes, an act prohibited by law.

The charge read: “That you, Bukola Rufai and Abdulateef Jimoh, on or about the 25th day of September, 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did march on Naira Notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (3) and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”

Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charge. Prosecuting counsel, Lanre Suleiman, reviewed the facts and presented evidence, urging the court to convict them. Defence counsel, O.D. Ajadi, pleaded for leniency, noting that the duo were first-time offenders and had expressed genuine remorse.

Justice Agomoh convicted them but imposed no custodial sentence, instead handing each a fine of ₦50,000.

The EFCC added that the influencers recorded themselves spraying and trampling on naira notes and shared the video on TikTok, ultimately leading to their arrest and prosecution.