By Mark Ogagan
Nigerian nightlife businessman and social media sensation, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has objected to his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over charges of alleged abuse of the Naira.
The anti-graft agency had arraigned Cubana before Justice Kehinde Ogundare at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos on Wednesday, for allegedly spraying and tampering with the naira at a social event contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
According to the three-count charge filed on April 4 by EFFC’s prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the anti-graft agency alleged:
“That you, Okechukwu Pascal, on 13th Feb. 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
“That you, Okechukwu Pascal, sometime in 2020, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
“That you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in January 2024, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”
However, upon arraignment on Wednesday, Cubana denied all the allegations.
His counsel, Chukosolo Ojukwu, told the court that they had filed an application opposing the trial as the defendant also filed an application for bail.
Ruling on the bail application, the court admitted the defendant on bail in the sum of N10m with two sureties in like sum who must be gainfully employed with the federal or state government and not less than grade level 16. The sureties are to have landed property and the document must be verified by the court.
Cubana Chief Priest is also to submit his travel passport to the custody of the court.
The bail conditions must be perfected within seven days but in the meantime, he was released to his lawyer who must give an undertaking to produce him later.
“Failure to do so, he will be remanded in a correctional facility,” the court added.
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