A Nigerian makeup artist has been sentenced to six months in prison for the public act of throwing local currency during his wedding, which contravenes a law designed to uphold the dignity of the naira.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the ruling on Monday, revealing that the Federal High Court in Kano, located in northern Nigeria, found Abdullahi Musa Huseini, known as “Amuscap,” guilty of what was termed “abuse and defacement” of banknotes.
During his wedding in December, Huseini was filmed tossing one hundred 1,000-naira notes (around $63 USD) in a practice referred to locally as “spraying.” Although this custom is a lively aspect of Nigerian celebrations, particularly at weddings and parties, it is technically prohibited under a 2007 law that forbids the mishandling of the national currency.
In recent months, Nigerian authorities have intensified their scrutiny of celebrities and influencers accused of breaching this law. The EFCC’s actions have sparked renewed discussions about the potential selectivity of enforcement and whether cultural practices should be subject to criminalization.
Last year, social media figure Bobrisky received a six-month sentence for a similar violation at a movie premiere, while actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin was also sentenced to six months after a video emerged showing her spraying and stepping on naira notes at a party.
Critics argue that the law is enforced inconsistently, often targeting prominent individuals, while supporters contend that it is essential to uphold respect for the naira amid Nigeria’s struggles with inflation and a declining currency.
