A Nigerian make-up artist, Abdullahi Musa Huseini popularly known on social media as "Amuscap" has been sentenced to six months in prison for "abusing the naira" by spraying it during his wedding celebration in December.
The sentencing took place at a high court in Kano, just moments after Amuscap pleaded guilty to the charge.
Spraying money, a common practice at Nigerian weddings and parties, is typically seen as a symbol of wealth and joy. However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intensified efforts to curb the practice, citing it as disrespectful to the naira the nation’s official currency and a key symbol of sovereignty.
Amuscap was found to have "tampered" with ₦100,000 while dancing at his wedding, in violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act of 2007. The act criminalizes the "spraying, dancing, or marching on the naira," and prescribes a minimum sentence of six months imprisonment, a ₦50,000 fine (about $32 or £25), or both.
His case adds to a growing list of convictions. Last year, social media personality Bobrisky and actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin also served six-month prison terms after being convicted of similar offences in separate cases.
The sentencing has sparked mixed reactions online. Many social media users expressed outrage, calling the punishment excessive. Critics pointed to the irony of harsh penalties for symbolic currency violations, while high-profile corruption cases involving massive sums often go unpunished.
One user commented, "How is it that someone gets jailed for spraying his own money, yet those looting public funds walk free?"
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