The trio of Ahmad Abdullahi Buhari, Jamilu Bello, and Yasir Muhammad Bala have been convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for Naira mutilation by Justice Ahmad Mahmud of the Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the convicts were jailed on December 10, 2025, after pleading guilty to a five-count charge bordering on Naira mutilation, contrary to Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
Count one reads: “That you, Jamilu Bello, adult, male on 7th July 2025 in Sokoto within the jurisdiction of this court whilst dancing at a birthday party at Fixon Restaurant Sokoto, tampered with the total sum of twenty thousand naira notes only (₦20,000) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the said sum and thereby committed an offence of mutilation contrary to Section 21(1) of the CBN Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 21(3) of the same Act.”
Another count reads: That you, Yasir Muhammad Bala, male, adult, on 8th November 2025, in Sokoto within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court whilst dancing at a birthday party at Pip Zone hangout opposite Sama Road, tampered with the total sum of Forty Thousand Naira notes only (₦40,000) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the said sum and you thereby committed an offence to wit: mutilation contrary Section 21(1) of the CBN Act 2007 and punishable under Section 21(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants plead guilty to all the charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, Dr. Aliyu Bokani Usman, to ask the court to sentence them accordingly.
Consequently, Justice Mahmud sentenced Bello to one year’s imprisonment on each of the two counts against him, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine on each count. The judge also sentenced Bala to a one-year jail term with an option of a ₦100,000 fine.
Similarly, the court sentenced Buhari to one year’s jail term on each count, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine on each count.
Justice Mahmud further directed that all the convicts must depose to an affidavit of good behaviour with the EFCC, to be signed by either their parents or guardians.
He also ordered that the convicts undertake community sensitisation programmes in any secondary school within their community, educating students on the effects of cybercrime and other fraudulent offences, which will be supervised by a designated EFCC officer.
The Commission reiterated that the convicts were arrested for spraying Naira notes at social events and were subsequently charged before the court.
It added that they pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them and were accordingly convicted.
