Cubana Chief Priest arrives Lagos court for arraignment on Naira abuse charge
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Nigerian socialite, Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has arrived at the Ikoyi High Court for arraignment on charges of Naira abuse.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced on Tuesday that the Cubana Chief Priest would be charged today for alleged Naira abuse.
The Commission filed the charge against him at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi.
Cubana Chief Priest will be arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare at 9am.
EFCC last week said many celebrities are being probed for their illegal use of the nation’s currency.
This was after cross-dresser, Idris Okunneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, was convicted on Friday following his successful prosecution by the EFCC for Naira abuse.
He was jailed for six months with no option of fine.
A copy of the charge against the Cubana Chief Priest which was filed on April 4 by EFCC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) alongside seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the Commission have been widely reported.
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”.
Count 2 reads: “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”.
Count three says: “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”.
