Popular businessman and celebrity barman Pascal Okechukwu, a.k.a. Cubana Chief Priest, who was arraigned at a federal high court sitting in Lagos State before Justice Kehinde Ogundare, has been granted bail to the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum.
Cubana Chief Priest was arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and charged with a three-count charge of naira abuse by allegedly spraying and tampering with the nation’s currency at a social event, which, according to the court, contravenes the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
In a suit filed on April 4, 2024, by the EFFC’s prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and seven other lawyers representing the executive chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, it was alleged that Pascal Okechukwu, on February 13, 2024, at the Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the same for two hours while dancing during a social event, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
In the charge marked FHC/L/246/2024, obtained by The Punch, the commission also alleged that sometime in 2020, during a social event in Lagos, Cubana Chief Priest tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the same for two hours.
However, he pleaded not guilty to these charges and was granted bail, to the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum.
Expressing gratitude for the public’s engagement in combating naira abuse, spokesperson to the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, assured that the EFCC remains committed to probing and prosecuting individuals involved in such acts.
“Increasingly, members of the public are drawing the attention of the commission to video recordings of abuse of the naira by Nigerians from all walks of life.
“These gestures amply demonstrate the rising consciousness of the public about the sanctity of our national currency and the need for collaborative engagement to sustain the tempo.
“The commission will always investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the abuse of the naira,” he said.
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