Why EFCC Detained Cubana Chief Priest Ahead Of His Arraignment Today

Nigerian Businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Cubana Chief Priest is set to stand trial before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of he Federal High Court in Lagos today on three counts related to naira abuse.

The Businessman is accused of allegedly spraying and mishandling the Nigerian currency during a social gathering, contravening the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale confirmed this development during a telephone conversation with Punch on Tuesday.

He said, “Yes, the Cubana Chief Priest is in our custody, and he’ll be arraigned in court tomorrow (Wednesday).”

In a copy of the charges filed on April 4 by EFCC’s prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Cubana Chief Priest faces accusations on three counts related to the misuse, tampering, and spraying of the Nigerian currency.

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