Prominent Nigerian entertainers, T-Dollar and TobiNation, have been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment following their conviction for offences related to Naira mutilation.
The sentence was handed down on Thursday, May 8, 2025, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), after both individuals pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against them.
Justice Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over the case and delivered the judgement, sentencing the duo to six months’ imprisonment each. However, the court offered an option of a N200,000 fine in lieu of jail time.
The sentencing of T-Dollar and TobiNation has reignited public discourse on the increasing trend of Naira abuse by celebrities and social media influencers in Nigeria. The EFCC has intensified its clampdown on such acts in a bid to uphold the dignity of the national currency.
Their conviction adds to the growing list of Nigerian public figures who have come under EFCC scrutiny for similar offences. Recently, controversial singer Portable, Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, and comedian AY Makun have also been associated with incidents involving the mutilation or mishandling of the Nigerian Naira during public events.
The EFCC has reiterated its commitment to curbing the abuse of the nation’s currency and called on the public, especially celebrities and event organizers, to refrain from spraying or defacing the Naira, as such acts remain punishable under Nigerian law.
The judgement has sparked mixed reactions online, with some social media users praising the EFCC’s stance, while others argue that the agency should focus more on high-profile corruption cases. Nonetheless, this latest conviction serves as another warning to those who may trivialize laws protecting the sanctity of Nigeria’s
currency.