Murja Kunya, a well-known Nigerian TikToker, was rearrested on Sunday in her hometown of Kano after evading authorities for weeks. The 26-year-old social media star had been granted bail following her arrest in January for allegedly violating Nigeria’s currency abuse laws. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stated that Kunya had failed to appear in court for her arraignment after being granted administrative bail.
Kunya was initially arrested after an online video showed her tossing naira notes in the air during a party at a hotel in Kano. The act of throwing currency is considered a violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, which prohibits the abuse and mutilation of the national currency. If convicted, Kunya could face up to six months in prison.
Kunya, who boasts over a million followers on TikTok, has been involved in multiple legal issues due to her videos, which are often deemed immoral by authorities in the conservative city of Kano. The state enforces both Sharia law and common law, leading to repeated arrests of Kunya for allegedly corrupting minors and offending the religious and cultural values of the region’s Muslim-majority population.
The EFCC has been actively enforcing a 2007 law that criminalises the abuse of the naira, including practices like showering banknotes at parties. While several celebrities have been targeted under this law, critics argue that its enforcement is selective and politically motivated.
