Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Kano on Friday sentenced Kannywood actress Saadatu Mohammed Inuwa, popularly known as Samha, to six months imprisonment for the abuse and mutilation of the Nigerian Naira.
The 34-year-old actress, who has appeared in several Hausa-language films, was arraigned on a single-count charge for violating Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007, which criminalizes the tampering, defacing, or mutilation of legal tender.
According to the charge sheet presented before the court, Inuwa committed the offense sometime in 2022 when she “tampered with Naira currency in the sum of a N1,000 (One Thousand Naira) note issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by soiling the same using your nose.” The specific language of the charge suggests the actress may have engaged in behavior that physically defaced the currency note. However, the exact circumstances surrounding the incident were not detailed in open court.
When the charge was read to her, Inuwa entered a guilty plea, a decision that expedited the judicial proceedings. Prosecuting counsel Musa Isah subsequently reviewed the facts of the case before urging Justice Shuaibu to convict the defendant and impose an appropriate sentence in accordance with the law.
In her allocution, the defendant, Inuwa, made an emotional appeal for leniency before the court during her opportunity to address the court before sentencing. Speaking on her own behalf, she emphasized that this was her first encounter with the criminal justice system and expressed what the court record describes as “genuine remorse” for her actions. The actress’s plea for the court to “temper justice with mercy” appeared to influence the final judgment.
Justice Shuaibu, in pronouncing sentence, convicted Inuwa and handed down a six-month prison term. However, in what legal observers note as a measured approach that balances deterrence with rehabilitation, the judge offered an alternative: the convict may pay a fine of two hundred thousand naira (N200,000.00) instead of serving the custodial sentence.
This case highlights Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to protect the integrity of its national currency. The CBN Act of 2007 contains stringent provisions against the abuse of legal tender, including spraying money at social events, writing on banknotes, or otherwise defacing currency. While enforcement has historically been inconsistent, authorities have in recent years pursued high-profile prosecutions to send a deterrent message.
The entertainment industry, particularly Nollywood and its regional counterparts like Kannywood, has faced increased scrutiny over the practice of spraying money during celebrations and film productions, a culturally embedded practice that nonetheless violates currency laws.
As of press time, it remains unclear whether Inuwa has exercised the option to pay the fine or will serve the custodial sentence. Legal experts note that the case serves as a reminder to public figures that currency abuse carries real legal consequences, regardless of one’s celebrity status.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Kannywood actress Saadatu Mohammed Inuwa has been sentenced to six months imprisonment (or a N200,000 fine) for defacing a N1,000 note in 2022, violating the CBN Act. She pleaded guilty and expressed remorse as a first-time offender.
The case serves as a stark warning that abusing Nigerian currency—whether spraying, soiling, or defacing banknotes—is a criminal offense with serious legal consequences, regardless of one’s celebrity status. Nigerian authorities are increasingly enforcing these laws to protect the integrity of the national currency.
