By Adenike Lawal
A Federal High Court in Kaduna has sentenced TikTok content creator Muhammad Kabir to six months in prison for defacing the naira during a viral skit, as public calls intensify for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to apply the same zeal in prosecuting ex-militant leader Tompolo.
Justice R. M. Aikawa delivered the ruling on Thursday, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine. Kabir had shared a video on social media where he stepped on and sprayed naira notes while daring the EFCC to arrest him.
The agency obliged swiftly, arresting him in Kaduna’s Tudun Wada area and securing his conviction just days later.
The EFCC, through its Kaduna Zonal Directorate, said Kabir pleaded guilty and judgment was expedited.
The case underscores the agency’s tough stance on currency abuse, as defined by the Central Bank of Nigeria Act.
However, the public’s reaction has been sharp and divided. Many are demanding equal treatment for Tompolo, who was seen being showered with ₦1000 notes during his 54th birthday celebration in April – a video that went viral after resurfacing online last Sunday.
Responding to the outcry, the EFCC tweeted, “Nobody is above the law. Tompolo will have questions to answer!” Yet as of press time, there is no confirmation that the agency has invited or interrogated him.
Efforts to reach EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale yielded no response, deepening questions about transparency and fairness in the agency’s operations.
Kabir’s speedy conviction has now become a lightning rod in the broader conversation about selective justice and accountability in Nigeria.
