Popular Instagram celebrity Pascal Okechukwu popularly called Cubana Chief Priest has granted bail by the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos after pleading not guilty for alleged naira abuse.
Cubana Chief Priest pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the court.
The socialite, who was arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on Wednesday, was granted N10 million by the court.
Other conditions listed by the court include two responsible sureties in like sum who must be gainfully employed with the federal or state government and not less than grade level 16.
According to the court, the sureties are to have landed property and the document must be verified by the court. Also, Cubana Chief Priest to submit his travel passport to the custody of the court immediately
The anti-graft commission filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest accused of abusing the naira at a social event, an act said to be contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
EFCC charge was filed on April 4th by EFFC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, 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”.
Meanwhile, the defendant also informed the court of his pending application to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the charge.
Justice Ogundare has adjourned till May 2nd to hear the application.
This is coming days after the EFCC arraigned controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye better known as Bobrisky on similar charges for which he was sentenced to a six-month jail term.
