The Federal High Court in Kano has postponed the sentence of well-known TikTok user Murja Ibrahimi Kunya until May 20 in response to the prosecution’s last-minute attempt to change the charge against her.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged Murja with one count of allegedly misusing Nigerian cash, and he is currently awaiting trial.
She is accused of dancing and spraying N400,000 at a party at the Tahir Guest Palace Hotel in Kano in December 2024, as captured in a widely shared video. She already entered a guilty plea to the accusation.
At Tuesday’s hearing, which was initially scheduled for judgment and sentencing, EFCC counsel, Musa Isa, unexpectedly applied for an amendment to the existing charge.
The request was strongly opposed by defence lawyer Abubakar Saka, who argued that introducing a new charge at this stage could stall proceedings and deny the defendant a fair trial. He added that the defence team needed adequate time to study and understand the proposed amendment.
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However, the prosecution’s plea was granted by Justice Simon Amobeda, who decided that the alteration would be permitted in the interest of justice. He then postponed the case until May 20 in order to continue the procedures.
The judge decided that, till the new date, Murja should continue to be held by her attorney under the terms of her current bail, which include a promise to appear in court.
