Cubana Chief Priest Pleads Not Guilty To Naira Abuse, Granted N10m Bail

Nigerian Businessman and socialite, Cubana Chief Priest has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the alleged abuse of the naira notes.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lodged a three-count charge against the social media personality on Tuesday.

Cubana, whose real name is Pascal Okechukwu, is accused of spraying and tampering with the naira at a social gathering, contravening the Central Bank Act of 2007.

The Businessman was driven to the court around 8:45 am on Wednesday by the EFCC operatives under armed police escorts.

Presently, he is undergoing arraignment at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The counts against Cubana read: “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.

“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.

“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.”

During the court proceedings, when the charges were presented, Cubana Chief Priest pleaded not guilty.

The court subsequently granted the businessman N10million bail with two sureties in like sum.

This comes after EFCC’s recent arraignment of popular crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, on similar charges, resulting in a six-month jail sentence.