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Naira Abuse: Cubana Chief Priest Pleads Not Guilty, Granted N10m Bail


The Celebrity bar man, Pascal Okechukwu also known as Cubana Chief Priest has pleaded not guilty to tampering and abusing the naira during his trial.

To this end, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State on Wednesday, granted the businessman and socialite N10m bail with two sureties in like sum.

News Rider reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on April 5, 2024, secured the conviction of popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky on similar charges. After the trial, Bobrisky was sentenced to six-month imprisonment on Friday, April 12, 2024.

Okechukwu was arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on three-count charge over alleged spraying and tampering with the naira at a social event, contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

He was alleged to have sprayed the naira on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

In the case filed by the EFCC and marked FHC/L/ 246/2024, the anti-graft agency alleged that 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.

In Count 3, it was alleged that: “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 thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”

Recall that on Sunday, April 14, 2024, the EFCC declared its intention to probe many celebrities over alleged abuse of naira notes.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale disclosed that many celebrities have made useful statements to the commission while many more have been invited by investigators working on the matter.

“The EFCC will not relent in its no-sacred-cow mode of operations and the public should be wary of running afoul of laws against the crime," he added.

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