Instagram personality Pascal Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, has been brought before the Federal High Court in Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges related to the misuse of the Nigerian currency.
The EFCC accused the socialite of violating the Central Bank Act of 2007 by allegedly mishandling the naira at a social gathering.
Cubana Chief Priest pleaded not guilty, and the court granted him bail in the amount of N10 million.
The charge was filed on April 4th by the EFCC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) and seven other lawyers representing the Commission’s chairman.
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 development follows closely on the heels of the EFCC’s recent arraignment of controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, on similar charges.
Bobrisky was subsequently sentenced to a six-month jail term for the alleged offenses.
