Instagram sensation Pascal Okechukwu, famously known as Cubana Chief Priest, stood defiant as he pleaded not guilty to charges of alleged naira abuse brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The socialite’s plea came during his arraignment at the Federal High Court in Lagos before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on Wednesday.
The EFCC levied a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest, accusing him of violating the Central Bank Act of 2007 by mishandling funds during social events.
In Count 1, it was 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”.
In count 2, it was alleged, “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”.
In Count 3, it was alleged, “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”.
Despite the seriousness of the charges, Cubana Chief Priest maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
Following his plea, the court granted Cubana Chief Priest bail in the sum of ₦10 million, with two sureties of equal standing who must be gainfully employed by either the federal or state government at grade level 16 or above.
Additionally, the sureties must possess landed property verified by the court.
As part of the bail conditions, Cubana Chief Priest was ordered to surrender his travel passport to the court’s custody.
He has seven days to fulfill the bail requirements, during which time he was released into the custody of his lawyer, who provided an undertaking to produce him as required by the court.
Failure to comply with the bail conditions could result in his remand in a correctional facility.
The charges against Cubana Chief Priest stem from alleged incidents where he sprayed funds in the denomination of N500 during social events, contravening the provisions of the Central Bank Act.
The EFCC’s prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), outlined the specifics of the charges, dating back to February 13, 2024, and earlier instances in 2020 and January 2024.
In addition to entering his plea, Cubana Chief Priest informed the court of his intention to challenge its jurisdiction to hear the charges against him.
Consequently, Justice Ogundare adjourned the case until May 2nd to hear the defendant’s jurisdictional challenge.
This development comes in the wake of the EFCC’s recent prosecution of controversial figure Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, on similar charges, resulting in a six-month jail sentence.
