Justice Ahmad Mahmud of the Federal High Court Sokoto has convicted and sentenced Ahmad Abdullahi Buhari, Jamilu Bello, and Yasir Muhammad Bala to five years imprisonment for Naira mutilation. The three defendants were sentenced on December 10, 2025, after pleading guilty to a five-count charge under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

The Charges

The defendants were found guilty of tampering with Naira notes by spraying them at social events, a practice prohibited by the CBN Act. Details of the charges include:

• Jamilu Bello: On July 7, 2025, during a birthday party at Fixon Restaurant Sokoto, he tampered with ₦20,000 by spraying it at the event.
• Yasir Muhammad Bala: On November 8, 2025, at a birthday party at Pip Zone Hangout in Sokoto, he tampered with ₦40,000 by spraying the money while dancing.

Sentencing

The court handed down the following sentences:

• Jamilu Bello: One year imprisonment on each of the two charges, with an option of ₦100,000 fine per count.
• Yasir Muhammad Bala: One year imprisonment with an option of ₦100,000 fine.
• Ahmad Abdullahi Buhari: One year imprisonment on each charge, with a ₦100,000 fine per count.

Additional Orders

In addition to the prison sentences, Justice Mahmud directed the following:

• All convicts must submit an affidavit of good behaviour to the EFCC, signed by a parent or guardian.
• The convicts are required to undertake community sensitization in secondary schools about the dangers of cybercrime and other fraudulent activities. This will be supervised by an EFCC officer.

The convictions come after the defendants were arrested for spraying Naira notes at social gatherings, which is a violation of the CBN Act.