A POPULAR Nigerian celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, has pleaded not guilty to tampering with and abusing the naira during his trial at the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Wednesday, April 17.
After pleading not guilty, the judge, Kehinde Ogundare, granted him ₦10 million bail with two sureties in like sum who must be gainfully employed with the federal or state government and not less than grade level 16.
The sureties are to have landed property, and the court must verify the lands’ documents.
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Cubana Chief Priest must also submit his travel passport to the court.
Cubana Chief Priest was arraigned on three counts bordering on abuse of naira.
He was accused of allegedly spraying and tampering with the nation’s currency at a social event, contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
He was alleged to have sprayed the naira on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel.
He was said to have tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 notes issued by the CBN by spraying the same for two hours.
The ICIR reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detained Cubana Chief Priest on Tuesday, April 16, for allegedly abusing the naira at a social event.
The case against him was filed on April 4 by Rotimi Oyedepo, a senior advocate, and seven other lawyers representing the EFCC chairman.
Count one of the cases alleged: “That you, Okechukwu Pascal, on February 13 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 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.”
The case against Cubana Chief Priest is coming barely two weeks after the EFCC arrested and arraigned controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, for naira abuse.
He was arrested on the night of Wednesday, April 3, in Lagos State.
Consequently, the Federal High Court, Lagos State, sentenced Bobrisky to six months imprisonment without the option of a fine on Friday, April 12.
In her ruling, the judge, Abimbola Awogboro, said the judgment would deter others from abusing the naira.
Selective arraignment?
Meanwhile, The ICIR reported that several videos have surfaced on social media platforms, including X, Instagram, and TikTok, showing public officials, monarchs, and some Nigerian celebrities spraying the naira notes in public.
As of the time this report was filed, the EFCC and related agencies had not arrested any of them.
Some of these videos and reports exposed the Governor of Niger State, Umaru Bago, a lawmaker from Borno State, Ibrahim Abuna, and the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa abusing the naira.
The CBN had said it would prosecute the minister, but she has continued as a cabinet member in President Bola Tinubu’s government without an arrest.
Another video showed how the Olu of Owode-Egba, Ogun State, Aremo Sowemimo, sprayed naira on a musician during an event. The ICIR reported that the monarch was suspended for two months by his aggrieved fellow monarchs but has not been arrested by relevant government institutions and prosecuted for it.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance