Operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have taken Kannywood actress Samha Inuwa into custody in Kano.
Gatekeepers News reports that the arrest comes after a video that went viral on social media showed her allegedly using Naira notes to clean mucus from her nose, an act that authorities say amounts to unlawful abuse of the national currency.
The arrest was carried out by the Kano Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft agency on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, after the footage circulated widely online and prompted the commission to trace and question her.
In a statement, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, said the viral clip led officers to locate and “subsequently arrest her to answer questions,” with Inuwa now being held at the commission’s detention facility as investigations continue. She is expected to be charged in court once the inquiry is complete, the statement added.
The action is part of a broader enforcement drive by the EFCC against naira mutilation and abuse, conduct prohibited under Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which bans actions like spraying, defacing, or misusing currency, violations that can attract fines and imprisonment under the law.
The commission has in recent years pursued several public figures and influencers involved in similar offences to reinforce respect for the integrity of the naira.
Inuwa’s arrest has drawn attention not only because of the unusual nature of the video footage but also due to her profile in the Northern Nigerian film industry. She has previously faced disciplinary actions, including a one-year suspension and licence revocation by the Kano State Censorship Board in January 2025 over alleged inappropriate dressing and provocative videos, reflecting ongoing controversies in her career before the latest incident.
Investigations into the matter are ongoing and EFCC has reiterated its commitment to enforcing Nigeria’s laws on currency protection as part of efforts to discourage misuse of legal tender.
