Audio By Carbonatix
A make-up artist in Nigeria has been sentenced to six months in jail for abusing the currency, the naira, by flinging it while dancing at his wedding celebration last December.
Abdullahi Musa Huseini, popularly known as "Amuscap" on social media, was sentenced by a high court in the northern city of Kano minutes after pleading guilty to the charge.
Flinging or "spraying" of banknotes, as it is called in Nigeria, is often done at weddings and other celebrations to show a person's wealth and as an expression of joy.
But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been waging a campaign against it, saying it shows disrespect for the naira - one of the country's most important symbols.
Amuscap is the latest Nigerian to be imprisoned for violating the 2007 Central Bank of Nigeria Act.
It states that the "spraying of, dancing or [marching] on the naira" is an offence, with the punishment being no less than six months in prison or a 50,000 naira fine ($32; £25), or both.
The EFCC said that Amuscap, while dancing during the wedding celebration, "tampered" with 100,000 naira by spraying the notes.
A transgender woman known as Bobrisky and actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin spent six months in prison last year after being convicted of the same offence in separate cases.
Some social media users have reacted with outrage to the make-up artist's sentencing, saying the punishment is too harsh.
One pointed out the hypocrisy of allowing those alleged to have siphoned off the nation's wealth to go unpunished yet jailing a man for "spraying his own money".
Latest Stories
-
Karaga MP Dr Amin Adam upgrades basic school infrastructure, distributes 400 dual desks
24 minutes -
Uganda’s president heads for victory as his main rival cries foul
1 hour -
Lt Col Dela Galley makes history as first female commander of Ghana Military Police
1 hour -
Nollywood special effects artist, James Akaie dies on set following gas explosion
2 hours -
27-year-old sentenced to seven years for pouring acid on former student
2 hours -
Ghana’s US envoy links job creation to ending youth deportations
3 hours -
Blair and Rubio among names on Gaza ‘Board of Peace’
3 hours -
Minister calls for inter-ministerial force to fix Accra’s rush-hour transit crises
4 hours -
Sarkodie’s Rapperholic UK edition sells out Royal Albert Hall
4 hours -
Academic exodus: Ghanaian PhD students in UK forced to withdraw as Scholarship Secretariat fails to pay fees
5 hours -
Antoine Semenyo’s £65m Manchester City switch sparks discussions in UK Parliament
6 hours -
Transport crises, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng v NPP and LGBTQI issues take centre stage on Joy Prime’s ‘Prime Insight’
6 hours -
Ghana Navy busts major fuel smuggling syndicate along Volta coast
7 hours -
Karaga MP donates 4,000 gallons of fuel to boost livelihoods in New Year outreach
8 hours -
GIPC CEO engages European Parliament delegation on Ghana’s investment reforms
8 hours
