Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, has pleaded not guilty to naira abuse allegations.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him with three counts and he pled not guilty.
On Wednesday, the socialite was charged before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The anti-graft commission filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest for allegedly abusing the naira during a social function, which violates the Central Bank Act of 2007.
After pleading not guilty, the court granted him ₦10m bail with two responsible sureties who must be gainfully employed with the federal or state government and have a grade level of at least 16.
The sureties must own landed property, and the document must be validated by the court.
Cuba’s Chief Priest will likewise surrender his travel passport to the court.
The bail requirements must be met within seven days, but in the meanwhile, he was released to his lawyer, who must sign an undertaking to bring him later. Failure to do so will result in his detention to a penitentiary facility.
HowNG obtained a copy of the charge which was filed on April 4th by EFFC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) alongside seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the Commission.
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”.
This comes just days after the EFCC arraigned controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, on similar accusations and sentenced him to six months in jail.
