- Obi Cubana spends fourth night in EFCC custody
By Emma Ogbuehi
Contrary to the news that billionaire hotelier and club owner, Obi Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, has regained his freedom from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Anambra State born business mogul is still in the custody of the anti-graft agency, four days after he was arrested.
The businessman, who chairs the Obi Cubana group of companies, was arrested on Monday at about noon and taken to the headquarters of the EFCC at Jabi, Abuja to be interrogated by operatives of the commission.
Obi Cubana is not a government official and not a politician.
However, news filtered in on Tuesday, 24 hours after his arrest, that he had regained his freedom.
But an EFCC source who spoke to TheNiche on Thursday said the businessman was still with them.
“It is not true that he has been released. He is still with us. We are not through with him yet,” our source, who pleaded anonymity, said.
Asked what Obi Cubana’s crime was and when he will be allowed to go home, the source said, “I don’t really know how much longer he will stay with us. He will be here as long as necessary. I am not part of the team interrogating him so I can’t say exactly when they will be through with the interrogation but they will let him go when they are through.
“I don’t also have the full details of what the offences are but it has to do with money laundering and tax-related issues.”
Asked if the EFCC ever granted him bail as was rumoured on Tuesday, he said the issue of bail comes after the interrogation. “We can’t grant him bail until we are through with the interrogation. We don’t want a situation where he will be granted bail today and he meets the bail conditions and then denied his freedom or he is released today and rearrested tomorrow. The optics will be bad.
“So, that is why we are still keeping him. When we are done, then someone will come and take him home.”
READ ALSO: Cubana Chief Priest, Obi Cubana’s wife, want hubby released
News of Obi Cubana’s release was fueled when his colleague and friend, Instigator PH, took to his Instagram page to write:
“Thank u Jesus!! @obi_cubana is free. We gat Jesus!!! . Dis Dance is for all my fans. I love u all.”
He also shared a post that reads: “Breakinh Newz. Obi Cubana is free. Confirmed by me, only 1 instigator. Give away loading.”
At about the same time, the Obvi Cubana himself also made a post of his photo on his Instagram page, with a caption that read: “Okpataozueora! I love you ALL!” He added: UNBROKEN #MANOFTHEYEAR2021.”
