Popular Instagram celebrity Pascal Okechukwu also known as Cubana Chief Priest who was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lagos for abuse of the naira has pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.
The socialite was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Kehinde Ogundare.
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.
He pleaded not guilty and the court granted him bail in the sum of ₦10million.
Savvy Media gathered that a copy of the charge 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 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.
However in another development, Nigerians have mocked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after a video of Obi Cubana spraying dollars popped up.
Online users have been able to unearth old videos of the celebrity. In a widely shared video, Obi Cubana was seen dousing a wedding ceremony in money.
Many of his followers were relieved to learn that the well-known businessman, who also happens to be a former partner of Cubana Chief priest, only sprayed dollars at gatherings instead of naira.