A Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has convicted and sentenced three men to prison terms for abusing and mutilating the naira by spraying currency notes at social events.
Justice Ahmad Mahmud on December 10, 2025, found Ahmad Buhari, Jamilu Bello, and Yasir Bala guilty after they pleaded guilty to a five-count charge of naira mutilation, contrary to Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.
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According to court records, Bello was arrested for spraying ₦20,000 while dancing at a birthday party held on July 7, 2025, at Fixon Restaurant in Sokoto.
One of the charges read: “That you, Jamilu Bello, on or about July 7, 2025, at Fixon Restaurant, Sokoto, while dancing at a birthday party, tampered with the sum of Twenty Thousand Naira (₦20,000) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same, thereby committing an offence of mutilation.”
Similarly, Bala was accused of spraying ₦40,000 during a birthday celebration on November 8, 2025, at Pip Zone Hangout, opposite Sama Road, Sokoto.
The charge stated that he “tampered with the total sum of Forty Thousand Naira (₦40,000) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same.”
Following their guilty pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Usman, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
Justice Mahmud sentenced Bello to one year imprisonment on each of the two counts against him, with an option of ₦100,000 fine on each count.
The court also sentenced Bala to one year imprisonment, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine.
For Buhari, the judge imposed one year imprisonment on each count, also with an option of ₦100,000 fine per count.
In addition to the custodial sentences, Justice Mahmud ordered that all the convicts must depose to affidavits of good behaviour with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to be co-signed by their parents or guardians.
The judge further directed that the convicts should undertake community sensitisation in secondary schools within their communities on the dangers of cybercrime and other fraudulent activities, under the supervision of designated EFCC officers.
The defendants were arrested by EFCC operatives for spraying naira notes at social gatherings, an act prohibited under Nigerian law.
